CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - (Business Wire) Massachusetts’ first Clean Energy Week last night culminated in the
New England Clean Energy Council’s first annual Green Tie Gala. The sold-out event celebrated the sector’s accomplishments and milestones throughout the year, and recognized those individuals and organizations for their outstanding efforts that helped to accelerate New England’s Clean Energy Economy in 2008.
“2008 saw the emergence of New England as the powerful epicenter of clean energy activity, and the emergence of a clean energy sector poised for global leadership,” said Nick d’Arbeloff, Executive Director of the Council. “The strong partnerships established between industry, investors and government this past year will bring tremendous dividends in the form of new high-paying jobs, and the creation of a strong, long-lasting economic engine which will help to drive growth in the Commonwealth for many years to come.”
“It is our belief that clean energy in Massachusetts will be every bit as big—if not bigger—than Biotech, health care, technology and finance,” said Hemant Taneja, Managing Director at General Catalyst Partners and Co-chair of the Council. “We are poised for a new ‘Massachusetts Miracle’ here, and the Green Tie Gala was the perfect way to celebrate our early successes and recognize the efforts of those who made it happen.”
Governor Deval Patrick, who addressed the audience at last night’s Green Tie Gala, unveiled the Governor’s Clean Energy Challenge, launched in cooperation with the New England Clean Energy Council. Through the new program, the Governor will challenge organizations throughout the State to dramatically reduce their greenhouse gas emissions through the implementation of energy efficiency measures, innovative energy supply products, and the use of renewable sources.
The program, which will first launch as a pilot in 2009, is based on the successful sustainable energy program developed by the Massachusetts High Technology Council, and will be driven in partnership with NSTAR, National Grid, and Western Massachusetts Electric Company.
The announcement capped off the week of November 17, 2008, which the Governor declared “Clean Energy Week” in the state of Massachusetts. Both the Conference on Clean Energy and the GreenBuild Expo were also held this week, bringing more than 30,000 visitors to Boston.
Speaker of the House Salvatore DiMasi, who has championed the cause of clean energy in the Commonwealth, also addressed those assembled for the event, offering insights on the wave of clean energy legislation that passed the House and Senate in 2008.
The Council’s Gala event brought together its diverse set of stakeholders and with more than 300 local leaders in attendance, the Council unveiled six awards, and gratefully accepted one itself:
Breakout Company of the Year - A123Systems: Headquartered in Watertown, Mass, with manufacturing facilities around the globe, the company has established itself as both an industry leader and market-maker by reaching $100 million dollars of cumulative revenue in less than three years of sales by providing next-generation lithium ion batteries that are more powerful, safer, and longer lasting than previous offerings.
Emerging Company of the year - Aspen Aerogels: Based in Northborough, Mass., with a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in East Providence, R.I. , this company emerged from its development phase with tremendous momentum, and is poised to build on that momentum with rapid sales growth. The company supplies reinforced, nanoporous aerogel insulation products that are up to eight times more effective than other insulation materials, delivering thermal and other benefits that enable customers to conserve energy and save money in a variety of industries, including oil and gas production and processing, LNG shipping and storage, outdoor apparel, building and construction, home appliances, transportation, military, and aerospace
Employer of the Year - GT Solar Inc.: One of the fastest-growing manufacturers in New Hampshire, with additional locations in Montana, Beijing and Shanghai, the solar manufacturing equipment provider has doubled its workforce and provided good, high-paying jobs to its community. In September, GT opened a 50,000-square-foot expansion at its 14-acre headquarters and manufacturing site in Merrimack N.H., and hired a broad array of assemblers, engineers, and technical and service workers, growing its workforce to more than 275 employees.
Corporate Citizen of the Year - Staples, Inc.: Committed to reducing its carbon emissions by at least 7% by 2010, Staples has already reduced green house gases by 12% over 2001 levels. The company is active in the EPA’s Green Power Partnership and ranked #4 out of the 10 leading purchasers of green power. It also reached down into its supply chain to find products for its customers that are easy on the planet and now offer more than 3,000 eco-friendly products. Recently certified by the Forest Stewardship Council for making recycled paper a standard offering in all its copy and print centers, Staples also reduces the amount of office equipment entering the waste stream though its first-ever national retail electronics recycling program.
Clean Energy Hall of Fame Inductee - Mark Farber: For more than 30 years, Mark has contributed innovation and passion to the energy sector. He co-founded Evergreen Solar, a manufacturer of crystalline silicon solar power products, and served as President and CEO for almost a decade. Farber was also Chairman of the Solar Alliance and a board member of the Solar Energy Industries Association, trade associations active in solar policy development in the U.S.
Clean Energy Council Leadership Awards - Berl Hartman and Peter Rothstein:
Berl Hartman of E2 and Peter Rothstein of Flagship Ventures each received awards for their outstanding leadership in the support of Council activities. Hartman co-chairs the Council’s Policy Committee, while Rothstein is co-chair of the Council’s Innovation Task Force—and led the development of the Clean Energy Fellowship Program.
Department of Energy Innovation Award – New England Clean Energy Council
The New England Clean Energy Council itself was also the recipient of a DOE Innovation Award from the Department of Energy. “We are happy to recognize the innovative programs launched by the Council in 2008,” said Drew Bond, Director for Commercialization & Deployment for the DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy. “Regional organizations such as the Council will have a huge and positive impact as the United States pursues a true clean energy economy in the years ahead.”
About The Council
The Council’s mission is to accelerate New England’s clean energy economy to global leadership by building an active community of stakeholders and a world-class cluster of clean energy companies. The Council represents a diverse set of stakeholders, including clean energy companies, venture investors, major financial institutions, universities, industry associations, utilities, labor and large commercial end-users. The Council’s ranks include over 50 clean energy CEOs, representatives from most of the State’s top 10 law firms, and partners from over a dozen of the top New England venture capital firms (with a total of over $8 billion under management). Working with our stakeholders, the Council develops and executes a wide array of programs in five key focus areas: Innovation, Growth, Education, Adoption, & Policy. The New England Clean Energy Council is based in Cambridge Massachusetts. For additional information please visit www.cleanenergycouncil.org.
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Keith Watson, 617-758-4142
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