SAN FRANCISCO, July 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The nation's best innovation, ingenuity and inspiration in renewable energy and energy efficiency was celebrated today by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC), which honored its 2017 3iAward recipients at an awards ceremony at Intersolar North America, based on a prestigious annual national search.
"Today, we're proud to recognize our 2017 IREC 3iAward recipients – among the nation's most extraordinary people, projects and programs making a sustainable energy future a reality," said IREC Board Chair Larry Shirley.
"Their work is setting new standards – creating solutions to today's complex clean energy challenges – changing communities and our national energy landscape," added Ken Jurman, IREC board member.
Award winners are:
State/Local Government Achievements of the Year
Sustainable CUNY (City University of New York) on behalf of NYC Solar Partnership
The New York City Solar Partnership helped lead to the quadrupling of the city's solar capacity in just two years.
Solar Energy International's Solar Ready Colorado Envision360 Virtual Reality Initiative
Envision360 is a solar recruitment program technology tool that gives students a virtual experience of what it's like to work in the solar industry, using Google Cardboard Viewers and virtual reality (VR) technologies.
Community/Shared Renewables Project of the Year
BARC Electric Cooperative Community Solar Project and Solar Learning Center
BARC's Community Solar Project & Solar Learning Center. The community solar project is the first in the commonwealth and was oversubscribed before it was operational.
Regulatory Champion of the Year
Utah Clean Energy
Utah has experienced extraordinary solar market growth. To ensure its continued growth, Utah Clean Energy developed a 10-year solar plan for the industry, regulators, local governments and utilities to work together to simplify and expand rooftop solar and reduce costs.
IREC Certified Clean Energy Trainer of the Year
Brad Burkhartzmeyer, Tacoma, WA.
Brad Burkhartzmeyer is a highly skilled solar trainer. He's also a "solar social philanthropist." He teaches for Solar Energy International in English and Spanish, domestically and internationally. He also takes his solar expertise to hospitals in Africa, a PV training program in Haiti, and to disadvantaged communities in the U.S. as a founding member of Remote Energy.
IREC Energy Heroes also honored
Erica Mackie, P.E. (Oakland, CA) is CEO and co-founder of GRIDAlternatives, which makes renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies available to low-income communities.
Mike Sheehan, P.E. (Seattle, WA) is a utility engineer whose expertise has led to more advanced and progressive interconnection processes across the U.S.
Elaine Ulrich, Ph.D. (DC Metro area) leads the U.S. Department of Energy "soft costs team" and is the driving force behind the STEP Program (Solar Training and Education for Professionals) and GEARED (Grid Engineering for Accelerated Renewable Energy Deployment), training future power systems engineers for a grid that accommodates more distributed energy.
About IREC
The Interstate Renewable Energy Council, a 501c3 not-for-profit since1982, increases access to sustainable energy and energy efficiency through independent fact-based policy leadership, quality work force development, and consumer empowerment. www.irecusa.org
SOURCE Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC)