Thought Leaders was formed in October 2007, and it has developed into a 1,000-member network of business leaders, entrepreneurs and investors who share common concerns: energy costs, reliability, climate change and the bottom line.

Members represent a wide variety of companies in the energy industry -- innovators like GE, Trina Solar, Invensys and CH2MHILL; utilities such as Conergy, EdF and PG&E -- and major corporations such as Chrysler, Deutsche Bank, Home Depot, Microsoft, PepsiCo and P&G.

Members also include thought leaders with the DOE, IEA, EPA, and the Clinton Climate Initiative. (There's a longer list of 60 selected companies and agencies on the Thought Leaders web page at linkedin.energypriorities.com.)

Thought Leader Group members are global. Every major continent is represented -- from China to Chile, Argentina to Australia, Singapore to Serbia.

The group is the brainchild of Denis Du Bois, founder and Editor of Energy Priorities magazine. He chose LinkedIn as the platform to create the Thought Leaders Group. Professionals inside and outside the energy industry were members of LinkedIn, but those with a strong interest in energy had no direct way to meet as a community. The Thought Leaders Group gave them a place to connect and share their thoughts.

How to join the Group:

Subscribe to Energy Priorities and you'll see a special invitation link on the confirmation page.

Click that link and a new browser window will open for you at LinkedIn.

Then click the "Join this Group" button.

The Energy Priorities Thought Leaders group logo will appear in your profile after your subscription is confirmed by the group manager. You'll have full access to the Members and Discussions areas of the group.