GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr 9, 2025--
Todd Thomas, bestselling author and founder of climate-tech startup Woodchuck.ai, has once again captured national attention with the debut of his latest book, Unleashing an Abundant Energy Revolution, which launched at #1 on Amazon. Like his first bestseller, Unleashing Abundant Energy, this second installment continues to ignite critical conversations about how breakthrough technologies can address climate change while meeting our ever-growing global demand for energy. Unleashing an Abundant Energy Revolution and its predecessor, Unleashing Abundant Energy, currently hold the #1 and #2 spots on Amazon’s Best Seller list, a rare achievement for any author, particularly in the climate and energy innovation space.
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As the second volume in a visionary trilogy, Unleashing an Abundant Energy Revolution arrives at a pivotal moment. The world is experiencing an unprecedented surge in energy demand—fueled by electrification, AI, data centers, crypto, urbanization, and industrial growth—just as we face the urgent need to decarbonize. Thomas’s work meets this challenge head-on, offering a bold blueprint for accelerating innovation across clean power generation, energy efficiency, and sustainable infrastructure.
“This book isn’t just about energy—it’s about systems thinking, curiosity, and the power of human ingenuity to solve the biggest problems of our time,” says Thomas. “If we can consume energy more efficiently, then we can slow the growth in energy demand—and with it, reduce the impact of energy production on the earth’s current warming cycle.”
Spanning topics from fusion and geothermal to AI-powered waste recovery and high-efficiency building materials, Thomas draws connections between technology, scale, and implementation—demonstrating that the key to a livable planet lies not just in generating more energy, but in generating it smarter.
“Fusion won't replace the grid tomorrow, but it's no longer a fantasy. It’s a frontier—one we are rapidly approaching. Green ammonia, thorium molten salt reactors, and hybrid offshore energy converters are no longer fringe ideas—they’re the tools we need to redefine what's possible,” adds Thomas.
The trilogy, dubbed the Unleashing Abundant Energyseries, is designed to build in depth and urgency:
“The global energy system is at a tipping point,” Thomas said. “We don’t just need cleaner power—we need abundant, affordable, resilient systems that meet the growing needs of humanity while protecting the planet. That means embracing innovation like never before.”
Early praise for the book has poured in from leaders across finance, energy, and philanthropy:
“Todd Thomas presents a visionary yet grounded blueprint for the future of energy—one that investors, policymakers, and innovators can’t afford to ignore.” — Dr. Nishant Dass, Claremont McKenna College
“A compelling guide for investors and operators alike.” — Brian Hartmann, President, NorthStar Clean Energy
“Not just a book—it’s a call to action.” — Tammy McLeod, President & CEO, Flinn Foundation
Unleashing an Abundant Energy Revolution underscores the urgency—and the opportunity—of transforming our energy systems now. It's not only a call to dream bigger but to act faster.
About the Author
Todd Thomas is a recognized thought leader in innovation, AI, and sustainability. He is the CEO of Woodchuck.ai, a Grand Rapids–based startup turning industrial wood waste into clean biomass fuel. With an academic background in economics, business, and strategic innovation, Thomas has made it his mission to turn waste into value and unleash a new era of energy abundance.
For interviews, speaking engagements, or review copies, please contact:
angela@redroofindustries.com
Published by TC Bradley, New Life Publishing
© 2025 Unleashing Abundant Energy™
Todd Thomas, bestselling author and founder of climate-tech startup Woodchuck.ai, has once again captured national attention with the debut of his latest book, Unleashing an Abundant Energy Revolution, which launched at #1 on Amazon. Like his first bestseller, Unleashing Abundant Energy, this second installment continues to ignite critical conversations about how breakthrough technologies can address climate change while meeting our ever-growing global demand for energy. Unleashing an Abundant Energy Revolution and its predecessor, Unleashing Abundant Energy, currently hold the #1 and #2 spots on Amazon’s Best Seller list, a rare achievement for any author, particularly in the climate and energy innovation space.
RHO, Italy (AP) — No ice is colder and harder than speedskating ice. The precision it takes has meant that Olympic speedskaters have never competed for gold on a temporary indoor rink – until the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Games.
In the pursuit of maximum glide and minimum friction, Olympic officials brought on ice master Mark Messer, a veteran of six previous Olympic speedskating tracks and the ice technician in charge of the Olympic Oval in Calgary, Canada — one of the fastest tracks in the world with over 300 records.
Messer has been putting that experience to work one thin layer of ice at a time since the end of October at the new Speed Skating Stadium, built inside adjacent trade fair halls in the city of Rho just north of Milan.
“It’s one of the biggest challenges I’ve had in icemaking,’’ Messer said during an interview less than two weeks into the process.
If Goldilocks were a speedskater, hockey ice would be medium hard, for fast puck movement and sharp turns. Figure skating ice would be softer, allowing push off for jumps and so the ice doesn’t shatter on landing. Curling ice is the softest and warmest of all, for controlled sliding.
For speedskating ice to be just right, it must be hard, cold and clean. And very, very smooth.
“The blades are so sharp, that if there is some dirt, the blade will lose the edge,’’ Messer said, and the skater will lose speed.
Speedskater Enrico Fabris, who won two Olympic golds in Turin in 2006, has traded in his skates to be deputy sports manager at the speedskating venue in Rho. For him, perfect ice means the conditions are the same for all skaters — and then if it's fast ice, so much the better.
"It's more of a pleasure to skate on this ice,'' he said.
Messer’s first Olympics were in Calgary in 1988 — the first time speedskating was held indoors. “That gave us some advantages because we didn’t have to worry about the weather, wind blowing or rain,’’ he said. Now he is upping the challenge by becoming the first ice master to build a temporary rink for the Olympics.
Before Messer arrived in Italy, workers spent weeks setting up insulation to level the floor and then a network of pipes and rubber tubes that carry glycol — an antifreeze — that is brought down to minus 7 or minus 8 degrees Celsius (17.6 to 19.4 degrees Fahrenheit) to make the ice.
Water is run through a purification system — but it can’t be too pure, or the ice that forms will be too brittle. Just the right amount of impurities “holds the ice together,’’ Messer said.
The first layers of water are applied slowly, with a spray nozzle; after the ice reaches a few centimeters it is painted white — a full day’s work — and the stripes are added to make lanes.
“The first one takes about 45 minutes. And then as soon as it freezes, we go back and do it again, and again and again. So we do it hundreds of times,’’ Messer said.
As the ice gets thicker, and is more stable, workers apply subsequent layers of water with hoses. Messer attaches his hose to hockey sticks for easier spreading.
What must absolutely be avoided is dirt, dust or frost — all of which can cause friction for the skaters, slowing them down. The goal is that when the skaters push “they can go as far as possible with the least amount of effort,’’ Messer said.
The Zamboni ice resurfacing machine plays a key role in keeping the track clean, cutting off a layer and spraying water to make a new surface.
One challenge is gauging how quickly the water from the resurfacing machine freezes in the temporary rink.
Another is getting the ice to the right thickness so that the Zamboni, weighing in at six tons, doesn’t shift the insulation, rubber tubing or ice itself.
“When you drive that out, if there’s anything moving it will move. We don’t want that,’’ Messer said.
The rink got its first big test on Nov. 29-30 during a Junior World Cup event. In a permanent rink, test events are usually held a year before the Olympics, leaving more time for adjustments. “We have a very small window to learn,’’ Messer acknowledged.
Dutch speedskater Kayo Vos, who won the men’s neo-senior 1,000 meters, said the ice was a little soft — but Messer didn’t seem too concerned.
“We went very modest to start, now we can start to change the temperatures and try to make it faster and still maintain it as a safe ice,’’ he said.
Fine-tuning the air temperature and humidity and ice temperature must be done methodically — taking into account that there will be 6,000 spectators in the venue for each event. The next real test will be on Jan. 31, when the Olympians take to the ice for their first training session.
“Eighty percent of the work is done but the hardest part is the last 20 percent, where we have to try to find the values and the way of running the equipment so all the skaters get the same conditions and all the skaters get the best conditions,’’ Messer said.
AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics
Serpentines are set on the ice of the stadium where speed skating discipline of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics will take place, in Rho, outskirt of Milan, Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Ice Master Mark Messer poses in the stadium where speed skating discipline of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics will take place, in Rho, outskirt of Milan, Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Workers clean the ice surface during a peed skating Junior World Cup and Olympic test event, in Rho, near Milan, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Ice Master Mark Messer poses in the stadium where speed skating discipline of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics will take place, in Rho, outskirt of Milan, Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Ice Master Mark Messer poses in the stadium where speed skating discipline of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics will take place, in Rho, outskirt of Milan, Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
