Great industry achievements happen when dynamic visionaries step up and spearhead efforts to bring about the changes they envision. Whether it is pioneering the development of solar power training networks, creating a financial vehicle that will vastly speed up the adoption of solar energy, or working tirelessly to integrate renewable energy onto the grid, these leaders know that it takes years of hard work to move an industry forward.

Editors from the Renewable Energy World network, which includes five print magazines and four websites, selected these leadership winners from among five finalists in each the categories of technology, finance and policy. “We interview change-agents like these people each and every day in our work covering the renewable energy industry.  It’s an honor to finally be able to give them the positive recognition that they deserve for the work that they do,” said one network editor.

The award winners were announced and recognized on Tuesday night at the Renewable Energy World North America Conference and Expo, in Long Beach, California. Video interviews will be conducted with many of the winners during the show and will be posted on RenewableEnergyWorld.com in the coming weeks.

Leadership in Policy

Jane Weissman
IREC

Jane WeissmanFor almost 30 years, Jane Weissman has been instrumental in meeting the needs of alternative energy industries. As the Executive Director of IREC, the Interstate Renewable Energy Council, Weissman has cemented herself as a thought leader in renewable energy policy.

You have likely read or participated in one of the many missions Weissman has created or been an integral part of: Have you received an IREC newsletter? Interested in becoming a certified solar installer? Weissman's role in building the foundation for sustainable renewables policy in the U.S. cannot be overstated.

A pillar in the industry since 1985 when she directed the Massachusetts Photovoltaic Center, her work with the national solar industry and utilities led to the creation of the PV-COMPACT and the PV for Utilities State Groups (UPVG). As executive director of IREC since 1996, she oversees the operation of IREC's current activities, including the highly regarded Connecting to the Grid, DSIRE, Small Wind Energy, Workforce Development, and Training Accreditation programs for clean energy.

Among her many titles, Weissman is a Fellow for American Solar Energy Society (ASES), Vice Chair of North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP), and the chairperson for the Clean Energy Workforce Education Conference — a position she has held since 2006.

Due to her vast experience and insight in the industry, Weissman has been invited by the U.S. Congress to provide expert insight on workforce development and training issues before the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment. And in 1998, ASES awarded Weissman with the Rebecca Vorhies award, and in 2010 with its prestigious Charles Greely Abbott Award, given to those who have made a significant contribution to the field of solar energy.