Energy and Environment Program

2009 Energy and Environment Awards

In 2009 there were six awards presented recognizing excellence in the following categories: corporate energy generation, corporate energy conservation, non-governmental organizations, governments, visual art & design, and individual thought leadership.  The winners were selected from five finalists out of all the nominations received in each category.

Corporate Energy Generation - A123Systems: For disruptive solutions in electricity storage.

 A123Systems is one of the world’s leading suppliers of high-power lithium ion batteries for the transportation, electric grid and portable power markets.  Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Massachusetts, A123 Systems’ proprietary nanoscale electrode technology is critical to high power systems.  A123Systems’ manufacturing model enables large volume production at high quality and price-performance.
Finalists: Amyris Biotechnology, Blue Water Wind, BrightSource Energy, and GridPoint

Corporate Energy Efficiency - Wal-Mart: For leading the way to reduce energy and environmental impacts.

Wal-Mart is the world’s largest retailer and has strived to become the standard bearer for energy efficiency in the global retail industry.  Wal-Mart’s energy and environmental initiatives include: doubling the fuel efficiency of their transportation fleet, becoming 100 percent supplied by renewable energy, and creating zero waste in their stores.  Through their “Sustainability 360” approach, Wal-Mart is redefining how the retail industry manages energy.  Through this approach, Wal-Mart continues its legacy of energy efficient installations which thereby reduce our carbon footprint on a per-store basis.  Moreover, by sharing best practices with academic institutions, industry groups, government agencies and other businesses – including their competitors - Wal-Mart is creating a blueprint that other retailers are following.
Finalists: Green Plug, Inc., Masdar, Recycled Energy Development, and Reva Electric Car Company

Government - Province of Alberta’s Carbon Capture and Storage Initiative: For developing significant new policies to meet energy and environmental objectives.

Alberta is at the forefront of carbon capture and storage technology development and application.  Once these projects are fully implemented the expected result is an annual greenhouse gas emissions reduction of five million tons which is comparable to taking one million vehicles off the road.  The Carbon Capture and Storage initiative is a critical part of Alberta’s overarching Climate Action Plan to reduce all greenhouse gas emissions by half by 2050.
Finalists: California Hydrogen Highway Network – California Air Resources Board, Colonias Project – State of Texas State Energy Conservation Office, Cow Power Program – Central Vermont Public Service Corporation, and The “Power Naturally” Program – New York State Energy Research and Development Authority

 

Non-Governmental Organization - CII – Sohrabji Green Business Center: For providing important leadership to environmental entrepreneurs throughout India.  

CII-Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Center is a center of excellence for energy efficiency, green buildings, water, environment and climate change activities in India.  The CII-Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Center supports many important ventures including the New Ventures India program which is a partnership between the center, the World Resources Institute and USAID that supports the development of sustainable green enterprises in India.  The business center itself has been awarded the Platinum Rating from the United States Green Building Council under their Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program.
Finalists: Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems, Integrated CO2 Network, Shaanxi Volunteer Mothers Association for Environmental Protection, and Sustainable South Bronx

Individual Thought Leadership - Van Jones: For scalable and disruptive thought leadership in energy conservation and economic growth.

Van Jones has been one of the most important forces in injecting the phrase “green-collar jobs” (and the shorthand “green jobs”) into mainstream American political parlance.  Thanks in large part to Van’s work, America no longer assumes that economic growth and environmental protection are incompatible.  Van’s leadership, and the example of the Oakland Green Jobs Corps, are making a difference in communities throughout America.
Finalists: Robin Chase, CEO, Meadow Networks; Professor Gretchen Daily, Professor of Biology, Stanford University; Denis Hayes, President & CEO, Bullitt Foundation; and Dr. Ajeet Rohatgi, Founder & CTO, Suniva and Founding Director, UCEP

Visual Art & Design - The Extreme Ice Survey: For highlighting and reframing our understanding of climate change.

The photographic and video documentary of the Earth's vanishing glaciers, the Extreme Ice Survey, by James Balog is perhaps the most powerful evidence of the effects of climate change currently available.  It is, as one nomination put it, “exhaustive, intrepid work--a complex, highly sophisticated combination of careful scientific research, daring adventure, and top-level aesthetics.”
Finalists: Shigeru Ban, Design Partner, Shigeru Ban Architect; Michael Murray, President, Lucid Design Group; Susannah Sayler, Co-founder & Photographic Artist, The Canary Project; and Laura Solano, Principal, Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates