IREC Spotlights Innovative Projects in Renewable Energy

 "This year's Innovation Awards targeted initiatives aimed at supporting clean energy workforce development, community renewables, state and local government and K-12 projects," said Ken Jurman, IREC chair. "Each of this year's winning submissions demonstrate initiatives and best practices that are helping move clean energy technologies closer to becoming the norm rather than the exception."

Selected through a competitive process, the 2011 Innovation Awardees include: Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association for the Colorado Fair Permit Act (state government); Joint-Venture Silicon Valley Network for the SV-REP Project in Santa Clara County, CA (county government); Cape Light Compact, Barnstable, MA, for Energy Carnivals (K-12); The Solar Foundation for the 2010 National Solar Jobs Census (workforce development); and District Energy St. Paul for the solar district energy project in Minneapolis, MN (community renewables).

2011 Innovation Award Winners

State government category: The State of Colorado

Colorado's Fair Permit Act

Lead partner: Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association

Project partners: Vote Solar Initiative, The Solar Alliance

Local Government category: Santa Clara County, CA, Silicon Valley Collaborative Renewable Energy Procurement (SV-REP) Project:

Lead partner: Joint Venture: Silicon Valley Network

Project partners: The County of Santa Clara, California; Optony Inc.; plus eight other local public agencies

K-12 category: Energy Carnivals, Cape Light Compact, Barnstable, MA

Lead partner: Deborah Shiflett-Fitton, Energy Education Programs Coordinator, Barnstable, MA

Workforce development category: The National Solar Jobs Census

Lead partner: The Solar Foundation

Project partners: Cornell University; Green LMI / BW Research; SEIA

Community Renewables: Solar District Energy Project, Minneapolis, MN

Lead partner:District Energy St. Paul

Project partners:U. S. Department of Energy Solar America Communities Program; Minneapolis Saint Paul Solar America Cities; andMinnesota Department of Commerce

"These innovative projects are why I feel confident that the young children of today will grow up to a world where solar and other clean energy technologies are as common place to them then as their cell phones, iPods and the Internet," said Jurman.

For a complete description of these projects, please visit www.irecusa.org.

Special Recognition Award Winners

Also during its Annual Meeting, IREC recognizes people and organizations that have made an extraordinary contribution to renewable energy and to the Interstate Renewable Energy Council. This year's IREC's Special Recognition awardees are:

Keyes & Fox, LLP

 Dr. Sarah L. White, Center on Wisconsin Strategy

Dr. Richard S. Knaub, National Renewable Energy Laboratory

 Louise S. Urgo, IREC

Utah Clean Energy

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The Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) is a non-profit organization accelerating the use of renewable energy since 1982. IREC's programs and policies lead to easier, more affordable connection to the utility grid; fair credit for renewable energy produced; best practices for states, municipalities, utilities and industry; and quality assessment for the growing green workforce through the credentialing of trainers and training programs.