The Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) today presents six Innovation Awards and five Special Recognition Awards at its annual meeting in Anaheim, CA. Selected through a competitive process, the Innovation Awards were made in six categories: The Rahus Institute (non-profit); the State of Michigan (state government); We Energies (college and university); the Advanced Transportation Technology and Energy Center and Hands On Solar (workforce development); Bonneville Environmental Foundation (K-12); and the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (local government)

"This year's Innovation Awards nominations were unprecedented in the number submitted and the scope of activities being undertaken across the country, adding yet more proof that renewable energy and concepts of sustainability are starting to permeate the collective consciousness of the American public," said Ken Jurman, IREC's Chair.
 
Below is more information on the 2009 Award Winners:
 
Non-profit: The Rahus Institute's Solar Schoolhouse Program has developed curriculum including textbooks, DVDs, classroom posters and teachers' guides for including solar and clean energy studies in the classroom. These project-based materials are augmented by technology sets developed by the Institute for hands-on solar electricity explorations. The Solar Schoolhouse also trains teachers at one-day Solar Primers and week-long Summer Institutes for Educators. Hundreds of K-12 teachers, as well as college and workforce development instructors, have brought this training and material back to their schools. In 2008 the Solar Schoolhouse translated the first part of the program into several languages for international students. 


State government:  The State of Michigan created the Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth (DeLEG), a newly reorganized state agency to align all activities related to renewable energy and energy efficiency, dedicated to investing in the energy sector and creating jobs in Michigan.  The new DeLEG incorporates aspects of the state's Department of Agriculture relating to biofuels, biogas and biomass; the Department of Environmental Quality related to energy policy, efficiency alternative energy, green programs and practices; and the Michigan Public Service Commission. 

College & University:  We Energies (WI), for its Renewable Energy R&D Grant Program that partnered with two local universities to help support the advancement of R&D specifically related to renewable energy technologies.  With Marquette University, enriched cultures for anaerobic digesters were developed to return an anaerobic digestion system to normal parameters after an upset condition, as well as increase the rate and amount of methane production.  With the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, activities on wind blade aerodynamics and various energy storage technologies were developed.  These R&D partnerships also result in increased educational opportunities for students and by the general public of emerging technologies. 

Workforce development:  To San Diego Miramar College's Advanced Transportation Technology and Energy (ATTE) Center's PV, Solar Thermal and Energy Efficiency Faculty Professional Development Program, and Hands on Solar (CA), for high school and community college faculty instruction in starting 'green' programs in photovoltaics, solar thermal and energy efficiency.  ATTE and Hands On Solar, Inc. have effectively collaborated to provide important faculty instruction in starting "green" programs in photovoltaics, solar thermal and energy efficiency. This instruction is directed at developing faculty expertise for both high school and community college faculty to ensure consistent, high quality instruction and integrated career education programs for students. 
 
K-12:  The Bonneville Environmental Foundation's Solar 4R Schools program (WA) which has, since 2002, educated more than 45,000 students, teachers, parents and facilities personnel about solar energy in nearly 130 schools and community centers in 15 states and the District of Columbia, becoming the most comprehensive solar schools program in the nation. The Solar 4R Schools educational program focuses primarily on solar and wind energy, but also includes information about other renewable technologies and energy efficiency. Classroom activities, science kits, teacher training and ongoing support are provided for all schools. Some schools get interactive kiosks, student workshops, community outreach events and other educational tools.

Local government:  The Sacramento Municipal Utility District's (SMUD) (CA) SolarSharesSM program which offers subscriptions to portions of a 1-megawatt, locally sited solar "farm."  To participate, customers pay a flat monthly fee based upon a customer's annual energy use and the size system the customer selects.  Customers can choose systems that on average cover 20-40% of their total electricity usage. Monthly program fees run from $10.75 for a 0.5kW system for a small energy user up to $132.00 for a 4.0 kW system for a large energy user.  With virtual net metering, the net impact on the customers' bills currently range from an average $4 to $50 extra per month - but will decrease as electricity rates increase.

"IREC congratulates all the winners and thanks them for their efforts, and we pledge to help drive the message home and to help remove barriers to wider acceptance and use of renewable energy," said Jurman.
 
For a complete description of these projects, please visit www.irecusa.org.
 
In addition to the Innovation Awards, IREC also takes a moment to say 'thank you' to people and organizations that have made an extraordinary contribution to renewable energy and to the Interstate Renewable Energy Council.  This year, IREC's Special Recognition awards went to:
 
David L. Block
David Block is Director Emeritus of the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC), having resigned as Center Directorr in November 2002 after serving as FSEC's Director for 25 years. Under his leadership, FSEC earned national and international recognition as the largest and most active state-supported solar energy institute in the nation. At the present time, he is the Project Manager of FSEC's NASA hydrogen research grant and the Program Manager for the Florida Alternative Energy Banner Center. Dave was one of the founding fathers of the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (known then as the Interstate Solar Coordination Council). For all of his work and commitment to excellence over the years, we extend a heartfelt thank you.
 
Tom Kimbis
Until recently, Tom Kimbis was the Director of Market Transformation for the Solar Program at the U.S. Department of Energy. Tom led the creation of the Solar America Cities program, a Federal-City partnership with 25 cities across the U.S. to reduce the barriers to commercialization of solar technologies. IREC extends our sincere thanks to Tom for his vision and leadership with the national solar market transformation efforts and for his insight and guidance with our key issues of codes and standards, net metering, and workforce development.
 
Mark Mrohs
Mark Mrohs is currently the Senior Manager of Training for the Residential and Light Commercial Division of SunPower Corporation, and previously for AstroPower and GE Solar as well as Siemens Solar and ARCO Solar. He is a preeminent specialist in PV training, having worked in PV for over 35 years and conducted programs in 23 countries. SunPower has been conducting installation, design and sales training programs for their dealer network since 2006 and under Mark's direction, the training has evolved into a sophisticated program that offers professional certifications. Mark was an early supporter of Mark Fitzgerald's Institute for Sustainable Power and we thank Mark for his commitment to quality standards in training.
 
Carl Siegrist
Carl Siegrist is the Senior Renewable Energy Strategist/Solar Programs Manager at We Energies. He is responsible for developing and implementing solar and other renewable energy programs and projects within the company and with their partners. Carl is on the Solar Electric Power Association's Board of Directors and is also on the Board of the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners. He brings his expertise and experience of the utility business and renewable energy to these Boards and to IREC. As a long-time IREC member, supporter, and friend, we recognize Carl as a special person for all that he does for solar and renewables.
 
Kathryn Sikule
Kathy Sikule, founder of Brownstone Graphics, has been making IREC look good in our print and electronic media since the early 1990s. For 15 years, Brownstone Graphics has been by our side promoting renewable and sustainable energy resources and practices. Kathy's vision of a company that benefits clients and employees, as well as the greater good, continues to thrive today. We consider Brownstone Graphics an important partner and friend and recognize Kathy for making IREC a better organization.
 

 
 

"This year's Innovation Awards nominations were unprecedented in the number submitted and the scope of activities being undertaken across the country, adding yet more proof that renewable energy and concepts of sustainability are starting to permeate the collective consciousness of the American public," said Ken Jurman, IREC's Chair.