DENVER- Governor
Ritter announced the winners of his first annual "Governor's Excellence in Renewable Energy Awards" at the 2008 State of the State Address. The awards were created in order to recognize individuals, businesses, institutions, and non-profits that are advancing renewable energy in outstanding ways in Colorado. Gov. Ritter announced the creation of these awards in his inaugural 2007 State of the State Address.
The awards honor the outstanding contributions made by these individuals and organizations to protect our environment and provide clean power through the promotion, usage, implementation and technology development of renewable energy in Colorado. The first annual award winners are:
Individual:
Craig Cox of Interwest Energy Alliance. Mr. Cox is a tireless advocate of renewable energy education, policy, and regulation. Starting with foundation funds, Interwest now depends entirely renewable energy industry funds. This is a sign that these industries have matured and can take responsibility for advocating for their own interests.
www.interwest.org.
Small Business: The Smiley Building. The Smiley Building is a model building for energy efficiency and renewable energy with a rooftop solar PV system that supplies all its power. It has no electrical bill and many other features such as a solar powered battery operated lawn mower, solar domestic hot water, energy efficient appliances and more.
www.smileybuilding.com.
Large Business: New Belgium Brewery. By employee vote, the Brewery became wind-powered in 1998, and incorporates energy efficiency and renewable features wherever possible. From sun tubes and daylighting throughout the facility and reusing heat and in the brewhouse to recycling waste, they work to close loops and conserve resources.
www.newbelgium.com
Institutions: Fort Carson. This Army installation set an aggressive 25-year sustainability goal, including sustaining all facility and mobility systems from renewable sources. Recently, they completed a 2 megawatt onsite solar project. Fort Carson purchases 40,000 MWH of renewable energy certificates and is a top 10 of renewable energy purchasers within the Federal government.
www.carson.army.mil
Non-profits: The Northeast Denver Housing Center (NDHC). NDHC is a community-based organization serving Denver's low-income residents for over 25 years, completing several projects with solar energy features. In November 2007, NDHC opened the Central Park at Stapleton which has 18 units and 10 kW of solar PV as well as other green building features.
www.nedenverhousing.org
"Congratulations to all of you for bringing Colorado's New Energy Economy to life, for helping us give new meaning to "bold and ambitious" and for helping to establish Colorado as an international leader," said Gov. Ritter.
The winners will receive an award created by
Joshua Wiener, a Colorado artist. The Governor's Energy Office selected Mr. Wiener's sculpture in a competitive bid to produce artwork that exemplified renewable energy excellence.