Vermont Business Magazine Renewable Energy Vermont’s 19th annual Conference and Exposition, REV2019, themed REV It Up: Empowering Energy Transformation, convened last week hundreds of business, political and non-profit leaders for two days of collective re-envisioning of New England’s energy needs. The conference also provided an opportunity to recognize the contributions of individuals who have devoted their lives to addressing the climate crisis by advancing renewable energy in Vermont.
“The work of our awardees moves our state to a future where we are powered by 100% renewable energy which we know is the most resilient, reliable, and cost effective path for the future,” said Olivia Campbell Andersen, Executive Director of Renewable Energy Vermont. “Our 2019 awardees—James Moore of SunCommon and Martha Staskus of Norwich Solar Technologies—have shown us all that incredible climate action and cost savings are possible in every community when we work together.”
The Renewable Energy Innovation Award, recognizes a project, company, organization, or individual contributing innovative, influential, and transformative efforts for implementing renewable energy and climate action in Vermont. The 2019 recipient of the award is James Moore of SunCommon whose work created paths toward a world where renewable energy is a way of everyday life. James Moore and SunCommon's community focused efforts resulted in a transformative impact on accessibility of renewable energy right here in Vermont. The guiding mission at the heart of SunCommon, which James co-founded, is to make renewable energy accessible to all. James and his team have pioneered this by making solar power not only accessible, but also logical and financially responsible. James helped changed the way Vermont thinks about electricity; he is at the forefront of this climate revolution that we are living. James says, “I have always enjoyed the clean energy work the most. I think if we are going to leave our kids with a healthy planet we need businesses to step it up and drive a clean energy transition for our economy.”
James Moore shown here with Renewable Energy Vermont's Board Chair, Leslie Cadwell (center) and Executive Director, Olivia Campbell Andersen (right).
Martha Staskus received the 2019 Renewable Energy Champion Award. This award recognizes an individual who tirelessly ‘champions’ the benefits of developing, creating, informing, and striving to improve our state with the deployment of renewable energy generation. Martha has been involved in 4 out of 5 utility-scale wind projects in Vermont, generating about 150 megawatts of renewable energy. From Searsburg to Lowell to Georgia Mountain, Martha provided environmental expertise and educated folks about the benefits of wind power. She is also responsible for getting multiple megawatts of net-metered solar projects deployed throughout the state, an effort she continues today as Vice President of Development at Norwich Solar Technologies. Martha has served as Secretary, Vice Chair and Chair of the board at Renewable Energy Vermont and is always ready to lend a hand.
Her tireless commitment to advancing renewable energy is motivated by her profound desire to create a healthy and sustainable future for our children. “Generating clean, renewable energy here in Vermont reduces the need to import fossil-fuel based power and reduces pollutants resulting from burning of those fuels,” says Martha. “For our kid’s sake, for our environment and our health, we all need to look at where we can make a difference and then make it happen.”
Martha Staskus shown here with Renewable Energy Vermont's Executive Director, Olivia Campell Andersen (right) and Board Chair, Leslie Cadwell (left).
REV2019 also recognized Jeff Forward for five years of service as Chair of the board of Renewable Energy Vermont. Jeff has worked with hundreds of schools; hospitals and other institutional facilities throughout the country to help them evaluate their energy opportunities related to biomass, solar and energy efficiency technologies. Jeff says, “We really need immediate action now. REV members are the boots on the ground for addressing this climate crisis; it was an honor to serve on the board.”
Highlights of the two-day conference include an engaging presentation by keynote speaker Jules Kortenhorst, CEO of Rocky Mountain Institute facilitated by VT Lieutenant Governor David Zuckerman; an engaging discussion with energy regulators from VT, CT and NY about the ways that policy has facilitated the growth of renewables and the need for modernization of New England’s grid; remarks from Congressman Peter Welch about the state of climate action in Washington; a climate action announcement from Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger, and a discussion with legislators VT Senate Pro Tempore Tim Ashe, VT Representative Avram Patt and MA Representative Joan Meschino.
Video of the awards presentations can be found here.
Renewable Energy Vermont represents businesses, non-profits, utilities, and individuals committed to reducing our reliance on dirty fossil fuels by increasing clean renewable energy and energy efficiency in Vermont. Vermont’s clean energy economy directly enables at least 18,800 jobs at 3,612 businesses, representing approximately 6% of Vermont’s workforce. Together, we will achieve 100% total renewable energy (electric, thermal, transportation).
Source: Renewable Energy Vermont 10.15.2019