It may come as a surprise that the greatest natural resource crisis facing the energy industry is not oil, but people. What a find! Acorn has identified an industry with no shortage of demand, plenty of opportunity and all the cash necessary to throw at its problems. However, this people problem is serious.

According to Jason Makansi, author of "Lights Out!", the electric power grid is being hollowed out as two people are retiring from the power industry for every new recruit. The problem is exacerbated by the fact that the last major build out of the grid ended in 1975. We are not only losing people, but experienced people that we will need to build the estimated 1000 power plants needed in the USA over the next twenty years. The oil industry is facing a similar crisis. The deeper we need to drill to discover oil the more dramatic the complexity of the infrastructure increases. In the past, companies like Chevron have had two $2 billion projects on the drawing board. Currently, they have over twenty $2 billion projects. Renewable power places even larger strains on labor pools. Every dollar spent on solar installations circulates four times in the local economy. How do they staff up for all the opportunity?

What if we could transform our society at the same time as we upgrade our energy systems?

How will our country absorb all the unemployed workers from the housing slow down? The returning soldiers from Iraq? The resources currently exist right in our own cities. The USA leads the world with the largest absolute number of people (7 million) behind bars, on probation or on parole.

We need to build bridges. Not railroad or car bridges but bridges to people. We need bridge building and leadership of the kind demonstrated by Bill Strickland the founder and CEO of the Malcolm Bidwell Corporation (MBC). Industries like the hospitality and pharmaceutical industries have partnered with Strickland to solve their people problems. The $325 billion sales electric power industry needs to do the same.

I watched this video several times. It is one of the most beautiful and compelling presentations I have ever seen. Herbie Hancock plays piano live as Strickland delivers his incredible story. Garr Reynolds, author of Presentation Zen said of Strickland’s speech, "If you are going to lead—if you are going to change the world and not just talk about change—then you have got to be able to stand and deliver your story with clarity, conviction, and grace. It's true for CEOs and it's true for social entrepreneurs...and it's true for you and me."

— John Moore

Read John's Blog: Bet the Jockey

Acorn Energy CEO John Moore shares the lessons he is learning as a value investor in emerging growth companies.