Michael Polsky is a visionary entrepreneur, business leader, and energy industry pioneer whose work has defined the global energy landscape. He is the founder and CEO of Invenergy, the world’s largest privately held developer, owner, and operator of energy solutions. Under his leadership, Invenergy has built over 220 projects, with a combined capacity of over 33 gigawatts across 30 U.S. states and four continents. Driven by Polsky’s pragmatic and results-focused vision, Invenergy has become synonymous with growth and innovation.
An engineer by training, Polsky’s career spans over 45 years and almost every form of energy. Beginning in coal, he worked in oil, nuclear, and natural gas power generation before founding and building two successful independent power companies developing cogeneration and gas plants. In 2001, Polsky founded his third company, Invenergy, playing a critical role in the global expansion of renewable energy at scale.
Polsky’s passion for entrepreneurship and energy innovation is also reflected in his philanthropy. With a groundbreaking gift in 2025, Polsky established the World Resources Institute Polsky Center for the Global Energy Transition and the Polsky Energy Transition Leadership Academy at the University of Chicago, each developing practical solutions to address the world’s most urgent and critical energy challenges. He also endowed the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of Chicago, where he serves on the Board of Trustees.
Polsky has received widespread recognition for his humanitarian and professional contributions, including the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award.
Polsky holds an MS in Mechanical Engineering from Kyiv Polytechnic Institute and an MBA from the University of Chicago.
