The North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association (NCSEA) honored several individuals, businesses and community organizations as part of its Green Energy Economy Forum, Networking Reception and Annual Membership Meeting at the Charlotte Convention Center on Thursday and Friday, October 8-9. NCSEA announced the 12 winners of its 2009 Sustainable Energy Awards in front of an audience of close to 400 leaders from across North Carolina.
Award winners were nominated and chosen by NCSEA’s Board of Directors, staff and other members. The annual awards recognize and honor North Carolinians who have promoted and championed renewable energy technologies, energy efficiency and green building solutions in communities across our state.
The following award winners were honored at the festivities and presented a plaque by NCSEA’s Executive Director Ivan Urlaub:
2009 NORTH CAROLINA SOLAR HALL OF FAME – Two individuals were inducted into the North Carolina Solar Hall of Fame this year. A plaque with the names of individuals inducted into the NC Solar Hall of Fame hangs in the NC Solar Center’s Solar House on the campus of NC State University. The NC Solar Hall of Fame was established in 1998.
- Tom Henkel of Chapel Hill was honored for his many years of dedication and service in promoting sustainable energy across North Carolina. Currently an independent solar energy consultant, Henkel is widely recognized national expert on solar thermal energy. He previously worked as a strategic and solar Solar HVAC Specialist for Solargenix Energy (formerly Duke Solar Energy) and a Consulting Engineer for Aspen Systems Corporation of Rockville, MD. He is also a former college physics professor and dedicated several years of service to NCSEA’s Board of Directors and Policy Committee.
- Amory Lovins of Boulder, CO was honored for his work in North Carolina, across the United States and around the world to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies. Lovins, who is the co-founder, chairman and chief scientist at Rocky Mountain Institute, has briefed 20 heads of state, held several visiting academic chairs, written 29 books and hundreds of papers, advised the U.S. Departments of Energy and Defense, and consulted for scores of industries and governments worldwide, including several in North Carolina. Newsweek magazine named Lovins "one of the Western world's most influential energy thinkers" and Time magazine named him one of 2009's 100 most influential people in the world. Lovins was the keynote speaker at NCSEA’s Networking Reception on Thursday evening, October 8.
2009 BUSINESS OF THE YEAR FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY – Carolina Solar Energy in Durham. NCSEA honored Carolina Solar Energy and its principals, CEO and Founder Richard Harkrader and COO Gerry Dudzik for their efforts and pioneering finance, delivery and service models, which have resulted in large-scale solar projects across North Carolina since 2004. CSE’s most recent project, a 650 KW solar park at the Person County Business and Industrial Center south of Roxboro, was constructed next to US Highway 501, making it one of the state and nation's most publicly visible renewable energy facilities. CSE has also launched a public website that will provide real-time readouts showing how much energy the solar farm is generating, how much power it has generated to date, and how much carbon dioxide it's reducing by offsetting power from Progress Energy's coal-burning power plants. The company also made it a priority to use local employees, including workers from Durham-based TROSA (Triangle Residential Options for Substance Abusers), who were trained to build and install solar panels. And to further promote the site’s green theme, the company will arrange to have sheep brought in to trim the grass, rather than relying on gasoline-powered lawnmowers. Click here to learn more about Carolina Solar Energy.
2009 BUSINESS OF THE YEAR FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE BUILDING – Proximity Hotel in Greensboro. As the nation’s first Platinum LEED certified hotel, NCSEA honored the Proximity Hotel for its remarkable leadership, more than 70 energy-saving and sustainable energy building practices and its on-going efforts to educate its guests and the general public through tours and media articles. The AAA Four-Diamond hotel uses 39% less energy than a conventional hotel of the same size, 34% less water and diverted during construction 87% of building waste from the landfill. The hotel features a 100-panel solar water heating system that covers its rooftop; the nation’s first installation of an Otis Gen2 regenerative-drive elevator system, which captures energy when breaking during descent, generating about a third of its electricity needs; oversized windows that are energy efficient, providing natural lighting to 97% of occupied space; a sophisticated telemetric monitoring system that continuously monitors the heating and cooling, which makes adjustments for improved energy performance and saved about $30,000 in the first year alone; and a geothermal energy system that powers the restaurant’s refrigeration equipment. According to Dennis Quaintance, CEO and Chief Design Officer of Quaintance-Weaver Restaurants and Hotels, "Green construction added around $2 million in cost, but we also figured that going green saved us about $1.3 million in construction costs. If you build a conventional hotel of the same size, you'll be leaving $140,000 on the table during your first year in energy savings alone.” Click here to learn more about the Proximity Hotel and click here to read a recent article about the hotel in the Solar Today magazine.
2009 BUSINESS OF THE YEAR FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY – The North Carolina Chapter of the Energy Services Coalition. NCSEA honored the NC Chapter of the Energy Services Coalition and its members across our state for their on-going efforts to make government and private buildings more energy efficient, which saves consumers and taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars each year and is expected to create more than 2,000 jobs over the next two years. The group played a key role and worked closely with NCSEA in securing passage of Senate Bill 304 during this year’s legislative session, which increased the amount the state can finance under Guaranteed Energy Savings Contracts from $100 million to $500 million. The State Energy Office estimates that local governments spend $225 million a year on electricity, natural gas and fuel oil - and most could pare 10 to 20 percent off their bills. NC school systems, which are chronically short of money, have been some of the greatest beneficiaries of energy-savings performance contracts. Local governments have saved an average of 20 percent on their utility bills through performance contracts and school systems 18 percent. Click here to learn more about the NC Chapter of the Energy Services Coalition.
2009 BUSINESS OF THE YEAR FOR SMART GRID – Lumbee River Electric Membership Corporation. NCSEA honored the Lumbee River Electric Membership Corporation (EMC) and two of its leaders, Jeff Jackson (Manager of Information Technology) and Walter White (Manager of Marketing), for their efforts to adopt smart grid technology and smart metering, which enables improved customer service and energy efficiency for its more than 42,300 customers in Robeson, Scotland, Hoke, and Cumberland counties. Lumbee River has taken a leading role among the state’s EMCs in prioritizing smart grid technology and its capabilities to adapt the electricity grid to more easily integrate renewable energy sources. Furthermore, the Lumbee River EMC has also established an Energy Star appliance rebate program and it offers weatherization kits and compact fluroescent light bulbs (CFLs) to its customers. Click here to learn more about the Lumbee River EMC.
2009 LEGISLATOR OF THE YEAR – NCSEA honored two legislators – Rep. Angela Bryant (D-Nash) and Sen. Josh Stein (D-Wake) – for their valuable leadership and outstanding efforts during this year’s legislative session, which resulted in passage of more than a dozen sustainable energy related bills that will create jobs, expand business opportunities, and spark financial investments in communities across North Carolina. In announcing the awards, NCSEA’s Executive Director Ivan Urlaub said, “We honor and salute Rep. Angela Bryant and Sen. Josh Stein’s leadership on issues critical to making green energy solutions more accessible and affordable for all North Carolinians, their dedicated efforts in supporting policies to make our state competitive nationally in creating green jobs and attracting new investments, and furthering the House and Senate’s understanding of how to turn some of our greatest energy challenges into opportunities for our great state.”
- As the Chairman of the House Energy & Energy Efficiency Committee, Rep. Angela Bryant played a key leadership role in drafting and encouraging the passage of several bills including the extension of North Carolina’s 35% renewable energy tax credit, energy-related government reforms, new financing options for sustainable energy projects, an expansion of our state's energy savings performance contracts, and requiring the state to buy more energy efficient vehicles. She also sponsored legislation to expand NC’s Green Business Fund, study offshore wind energy resources, and improve energy efficiency requirements for NC’s building code.
- Although a newcomer to the Senate, Sen. Josh Stein exemplified remarkable leadership on several important sustainable energy issues from day one, which surpassed the efforts of many other more senior legislators. Sen. Stein was one of the key negotiators who helped secure final passage of the renewable energy tax credit extension until 2016, the expansion of energy savings performance contracts, and a study to establish a renewable energy certificates (RECs) trading system for North Carolina. Sen. Stein also introduced legislation to create the NC Sustainability 2050 Task Force, which would develop a sustainability plan for sustainable growth and development in North Carolina through the year 2050.
2009 OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD – SAS. NCSEA honored SAS with its 2009 Outstanding Achievement Award due to the company’s valuable leadership and outstanding achievement in ensuring a sustainable future for North Carolina. A longtime leader in business analytics around the world, SAS is now taking a leading role in implementing sustainability measures at its campus in Cary. Furthermore, they truly exemplify "leadership by example" for North Carolina businesses and of socially responsible action in their backyard. Specific programs and projects include the company’s “SAS for Sustainability Management,” a solution that helps organizations accurately measure and manage their environmental impact, its 1 Megawatt photovoltaic solar farm, and its new LEED certified office building and Executive Briefing Center, which features a solar thermal heating system and water and energy conservation measures. Click here to learn more about SAS and its numerous sustainability efforts.
2009 OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP AWARD – Institute for Emerging Issues. NCSEA honored the Institute for Emerging Issues (IEI) and its leadership team, Anita Brown Graham and Diane Cherry, for its on-going efforts to promote sustainable energy in North Carolina. In 2008, IEI’s annual forum was entitled, “North Carolina’s Energy Futures: Realizing A State of Opportunity,” which focused on building a new energy economy that provides secure, reliable, affordable and sustainable energy sources while promoting economic development. Working in partnership with NCSEA, IEI began its energy-related work in 2007 leading up to its annual forum in Raleigh in February, they held regional forums across the state to begin conversations on how each region can contribute to NC’s energy future, and they created a Business Committee on Energy, which made legislative recommendations, many of which have been adopted. Click here to learn more about IEI, click here for more information about IEI’s 2008 energy forum, and click here for more information about IEI’s energy work.
2009 NC SUSTAINABLE ENERGY STUDENT ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR – Appalachian State University’s Renewable Energy Initiative. Started in 2004, Appalachian State University’s Renewable Energy Initiative is led by a group of motivated students that promote renewable energy on campus. The group began its efforts in March of 2004 when it presented a referendum to the student body, which was later approved by 82%. The students boldly agreed to tax themselves, and each semester, every student at ASU pays $5 towards the implementation of renewable energy. These renewable energy projects are meant to help offset the university's dependence on fossil fuels and serve as outreach and education to students about the benefits of renewable energy.
The group’s most recent project and its largest – a 121-foot tall tower and Northwind 100 wind turbine, which is located behind the Broyhill Inn and Conference Center at ASU. The community-scale wind turbine was purchased with student Renewable Energy Initiative fees, and contributions from the Senior Class of 2009 and New River Light and Power. After more than 30 years, a wind turbine is once again part of the vista in the Town of Boone thanks to the efforts of these students. Other REI funded projects on campus are a photovoltaic array in front of Raley Hall and a solar thermal system that will provide hot water to Plemmons Student Union. Click here to learn more about ASU’s Renewable Energy Initiative.
2009 NC SUSTAINABLE ENERGY COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR – Sustainable Sandhills. NCSEA honored Sustainable Sandhills for several of its recent efforts, which resulted in a community driven sustainability plan for the City of Fayetteville, a low-income weatherization program using local utility-donated materials and community/faith-based volunteers, and its Green Business Program, which recognizes sustainable energy, water and solid waste practices by small businesses in the Sandhills region. Sustainable Sandhills is a non-profit organization with a focus in the eight county region surrounding Fort Bragg. They work to raise awareness of not only our environment, but also our economy and quality of life through programs ranging from recycling to green business to eco-tourism. Their programs engage both governmental and non-governmental organizations, the military, and most importantly, the residents and businesses of the region in a grassroots effort for a more Sustainable Sandhills. Click here to learn more about Sustainable Sandhills.
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Join The NC Sustainable Energy Association for its Holiday and (New) Office Warming Party on Thursday, December 10, 2009 from 5:30 - 7:30 pm at our office near downtown Raleigh. 
