Tom Carnahan (born 1969) is an attorney, businessman and community leader with extensive experience in both the workings of government and private sector innovation
In 2005, drawing inspiration from his rural Missouri upbringing, Mr. Carnahan founded Wind Capital Group and became a leading developer, owner and operator of utility-scale wind farms in rural America. Under his leadership, Wind Capital Group developed over 1000 megawatts of operating wind farms across five states. Since 2014 he has focused on bringing renewable energy to the people of East Africa and is currently developing wind projects in that region, including a late-stage 150 megawatt project in Central Tanzania.
Mr. Carnahan has testified on Capitol Hill and appeared on CNN, Fox Business News, ABC World News, MSNBC, NPR and other major outlets as an expert on energy, public policy and development. Carnahan also served as the Chairman of the American Wind Energy Association, a national trade association of domestic and international wind energy interests that promotes wind energy. In addition to his work in clean energy development, Mr. Carnahan serves on the Board of Forest Park Forever, a not-for-profit group in St. Louis dedicated to protection and funding of the largest city park in the United States, and is a member of the Board of Trustees of the St. Louis Art Museum.
Tom Carnahan is the son of Missouri Governor Mel Carnahan and U.S. Senator Jean Carnahan and a member of the prominent Missouri Carnahan Family. Carnahan's grandfather, A. S. J. Carnahan, served in Congress for seven terms, and was appointed by President John F. Kennedy as U.S. Ambassador to Sierra Leone.
Carnahan received a Bachelor of Arts degree from William Jewell College in 1991, during which time he spent one year at Homerton College, Cambridge University, England. Carnahan received his juris doctor from the University of Missouri in 1995 and was a staff attorney for the St. Louis, Missouri City Counselor's office from 1995 to 1997 and a name partner for the St. Louis firm of Carnahan & Garvin from 1997 to 2005.