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About the Episode:

If you think it takes grit to build a battery energy storage company, try going behind the Iron Curtain two years before the end of the Cold War to broker a licensing agreement for what would become the best-selling video game of all time: Tetris.

Either of those feats would be remarkable; to accomplish both is a whole other level of entrepreneurial achievement.  While some of you may not be familiar with today’s guest, you’ll definitely be familiar with his work, and you may have even watched a movie about him!

Henk Rogers is known as the father of role-playing games in Japan and for introducing Tetris to the world. Leveraging his software development and licensing expertise, Henk is now tackling what he considers the greatest problem of our time: climate change. And, yes, he was even played by Taron Edgerton in the 2023 Apple TV+ movie ‘Tetris’!

A mid-life health scare helped Henk realize that he needed to trade pixels for a higher purpose. Through founding the Blue Planet Foundation, he is helping to do just that, starting in his home state of Hawaii where he was instrumental in driving their goal of 100% renewable energy by 2045. With his most recent venture, Blue Planet Energy, he is developing advanced battery energy storage systems to enhance safety, reliability, and output for renewable energy.

In this Flashback Friday clip, you’ll discover:

• How Henk Rogers discovered Tetris and revolutionized the gaming industry
• The pivotal moment that redirected his career toward environmental activism and the fight against climate change
• The unwavering determination that has propelled him to the forefront of the renewable energy movement in Hawaii
• The strategies he's employed to transform the Aloha State into a model the rest of the planet can follow

If you’d like to hear more than just this snippet, then I’d encourage you to queue up episode 150 and explore how a gaming legend became a driving force in the fight against climate change.

Helpful RESOURCES:

Connect with Henk Rogers:

• LinkedIn | X 

Check out Blue Planet Energy:

• Website | LinkedIn | X | YouTube | Facebook

Check ot Blue Planet Alliance:

• Website | LinkedIn | X | Facebook | Instagram

Check out Blue Planet Foundation:

• Website  | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram

Full episode:

• Episode 150: What Tetris Did For Energy Storage, With Henk Rogers

Resources:

• Apple Original Films unveils trailer for "Tetris" new thriller starring Taron Egerton

NOTEWORTHY QUOTEs:

“This is not how I die. I don’t want my legacy to be that I made a bunch of money and died. That’s not enough. I want my life to have to mean something.”

— Henk Rogers

“If we cannot become sustainable, we’re doomed. We’re going to like drink our last drop of water, breathe our last bit of oxygen. At the end of the day, we have to get to the point where we’re living sustainably on this planet.”

— Henk Rogers

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ABOUT THE HOST OF SUNCAST:

Nico Johnson is the creator and host of SunCast, consistently rated a top solar podcast in the clean energy sector. The content of the show is geared towards listeners looking for insights on where the markets are headed, how to position themselves or their companies, and what today's market leaders do to stay ahead of the pack.

Nico is an Investor, Executive Coach, and 16-year veteran of the solar industry, having led development in the US and Latin America for global companies like Trina Solar and Conergy.

You can connect with Nico Johnson on Twitter, LinkedIn or email.

If you’ve been second-guessing your work decisions or maybe trying to reconsider how you "fit" in the renewable energy industry -> grab 15 minutes on Nico's calendar and discuss whether having him as Your personal coach might be the right next step.