Interstate Renewable Energy Council, Inc.

To honor and remember Michael La Marca, we will be hosting the 3rd Annual Cycle for Michael bike ride on Sunday, August 20th. This event aims to raise funds to support the Real Decent Foundation, which was created by his family to uphold Michael’s legacy, combining his continuous pursuit of education with his passion and career in solar energy. To date, the Cycle for Michael event has raised over $50,000! We are excited to announce that we have partnered with the University of Michigan's School of Engineering to create the Michael B. La Marca Energy Innovation Award, a partnership with the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) and the University of Michigan, awarded to passionate students focused in the field of renewable energy. We believe this is the perfect way to honor Michael's legacy by combining his fervent love for his alma mater with his dedication to solar energy.

As many of you know, Michael was an exceptional student throughout his life, excelling in math and sciences. He studied Physics while at the University of Michigan before earning a PhD in Mathematics from Arizona State University. This background fueled Michael’s path in renewable energy and led to his last role as Director of Solar Fleet Performance for Sunnova Energy. Outside of education and work, Michael developed a love for cycling while working with a research team in the Netherlands during his post-graduate studies. After returning home to the US, he continued to train and participate in several charity cycling events including the MS 150 ride and the 1Mission Bikes Fight Poverty ride.

This year’s Cycle for Michael event will take place on Sunday, August 20th in Lebanon, NJ. The attendance and participation over the past two years has been incredible and so touching and we hope you can join us again in-person. For those who cannot, we would love for you to participate by riding wherever you may be and helping us raise funds in Michael’s honor for a fantastic organization. Just hop on a bike, blast some Guns N' Roses, and smile thinking of Michael! Be sure to post a photo or video to either the GoFundMe page or the Real Decent Foundation Instagram page at @RealDecentFoundation letting us know you rode for Michael and donated to the Real Decent Foundation on his behalf. For more information on IREC, please go to https://irecusa.org/.

Thanks,

The La Marca's

Our brother/son/nephew/friend, Michael La Marca unexpectedly passed away in October 2020 while hiking in the Tonto National Forest near his home in Arizona. In order to honor Michael's legacy, his family created the Real Decent Foundation in 2021, which combines his continuous pursuit of education with his passion and career in Solar Energy.   

Michael excelled in math and sciences, graduating with a Physics degree from U of Michigan and then earning a PhD in Mathematics from Arizona State University. This path fueled Michael’s interest in renewable energy and led to his most recent role as Director of Solar Fleet Performance for Sunnova Energy. During his post graduate studies, Michael developed a love for cycling while working with a research team in the Netherlands. After returning home to the US, he continued to train and participate in several charity cycling events including the MS 150 ride from Houston to Austin, and the 1Mission Bikes Fight Poverty ride from Phoenix to Puerto Penasco, Mexico.   

As a natural fit for Michael’s talent and hobby, we will be hosting the 2nd Annual Cycle for Michael bike ride and hope to raise funds for the foundation which has partnered with IREC to create the Michael B La Marca scholarship, awarded to students focused in renewable energy. Last year we raised close to $25,000 that is going to our partner charity the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (Merged with Solar Foundation).   

This year’s event will take place on Sunday, August 14th (Michael's Birthday) in Lebanon, NJ. If you cannot attend the event in person, we would love for you to participate by riding wherever in the world you may be and thinking of Michael and helping us raise funds in his honor for a fantastic organization. Just hop on a bike of any kind, blast some Guns N' Roses on your headphones/portable speaker, and go for a fun bike ride!  Be sure to post a pic or video of you on your bike either in the Go Fund Me comments or on the Real Decent Foundation Instagram page at @RealDecentFoundation letting us know you rode for Michael and donated to the Solar Foundation on his behalf

 

Thanks,

 

The La Marca's

 

More information about Interstate Renewable Energy Council, Inc.: For more than 40 years IREC has made clean energy possible for millions of Americans. Today our work continues in response to the urgent need to transition to clean energy to mitigate climate change, improve the resiliency of our communities and ensure all people benefit from a just transition to a clean energy future. IREC recently merged with The Solar Foundation to deepen our impact across all clean energy technologies. We have offices in Albany and DC, with many employees working remotely nationwide.