2008/08/20 ENE Receives Prestigious ACEEE Champion of Efficiency Award
Press Release
August 20, 2008
Contact:
Emily Avery-Miller (207) 236-6470
Meg Wilcox (617) 742-0064, (617) 319-6457 (cell)
ENE (Environment Northeast) Receives National ACEEE Champion of Energy Efficiency Award
ROCKPORT, ME-- The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) selected ENE (Environment Northeast) as one of its four Champions of Energy Efficiency for 2008. The coveted award was granted for demonstrating national leadership and accomplishment in the energy efficiency field. ACEEE presented the award on August 19 at its conference, Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings, in Pacific Grove, California.
ENE was awarded for "shepherding policies that engage stakeholders, substantially increase energy efficiency investments, and institutionalize support for energy efficiency throughout New England." ACEEE also recognized ENE for its critical role in advocating that the proceeds from the sale of carbon permits under the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, (RGGI) be used to fund energy efficiency programs. RGGI is an agreement between 10 Northeast states to reduce carbon dioxide from power plants that goes into effect in January.
"The ACEEE award has been given to an impressive list of national efficiency and sustainable energy policy leaders, and ENE is honored to join them," said Daniel L. Sosland, executive director, ENE. "The award comes at a time when a growing number of interests--from business leaders, to elected officials, to citizens--are recognizing the valuable role that energy efficiency can play in addressing today's pressing problems of high energy prices, global warming, and job losses."
ENE has worked with stakeholders over the past 3 years to pass comprehensive legislation advancing energy efficiency and renewable energy in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Maine. A key feature of each state's legislation is a requirement that utilities put energy efficiency on an equal footing with supply. Under this common sense approach, utilities must invest in all energy efficiency that is cheaper than traditional power plant supply. With electric supply costing 10 to 12 cents per kilowatt hour and energy efficiency costing just 3 cents per kilowatt hour saved, the potential for savings is enormous.
"By maximizing our investments in energy efficiency, the country can chart a course that will save consumers billions and drive clean economic growth for decades," said Sosland.
ACEEE award winners were nominated by their peers and selected by a committee of ACEEE's Board of Directors. Winners are selected based on demonstrated excellence in leadership, program implementation, research and development, and energy policy.
ACEEE executive director Steven Nadel said "ENE has played a pivotal role for over a decade in advocating for energy efficiency policies and regulations throughout New England. We are pleased to recognize the organization this year for its leadership and its fortitude."
ENE is a non-profit research and policy organization addressing climate change, and other large scale environmental challenges, in the Northeast and eastern Canada with offices in Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Prince Edward Island, Canada.
