Clean Energy Champion of the Year, Clean Tech Business of the Year Awardees Recognized
Photo credit: Clifton Below
Brianna Fiorillo
Clean Energy NH, the Granite State’s leading clean energy advocate and educator, announced the winners of its annual Clean Energy Awards via virtual means this year due to the pandemic.
Competition for the awards is stiff every year because members of Clean Energy NH represent the state’s most distinguished clean technology companies ranging from renewable energy generation, engineering, consulting, energy efficiency, legal, financial, and beyond. In addition, the individual members of Clean Energy NH are well-known for their extensive contributions to the state’s policy, regulatory, and municipal landscapes.
The Clean Energy Champion of the Year Award was established in 2017. The award is presented annually to a Clean Energy NH member who has gone above-and-beyond in their support and engagement with the organization and demonstrates a leadership role in the transition to a clean energy future.
Few individuals have done more for the progress of our state’s, nay, our nation’s energy evolution than this year’s winner. Clifton Below, in the mid-1990s as a legislator in New Hampshire’s House of Representatives, penned the nation’s first Electric Utility Restructuring Statute and catalyzed a wave of copycat laws across America. Since this auspicious start to an illustrious career, Clifton has continued to lead New Hampshire forward on energy issues — first as a State Senator, then as a Public Utilities Commissioner, and now as Assistant Mayor for the City of Lebanon — always with an unshakable commitment to the ideals of market competition, energy independence, and environmental sustainability. A smattering of Clifton’s accomplishments over the years includes his co-founding of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, his collaboration with Liberty Utilities to design a nationally recognized time-of- use residential energy storage pilot, and most recently authoring and shepherding the Community Power Law through the New Hampshire General Court.
Representatives of Resilient Building Group at the State House with the Clean Tech of the Year award. Dana Nute (on the left) is President and Chase Pennoyer, VP of Operations. Courtesy photo. Photo credit: Resilient Building Group
The Clean Tech Business of the Year Award was also established in 2017. This award is presented annually to a Clean Energy NH business member that demonstrates excellence in their clean tech industry sector and continues to support the work and mission of Clean Energy NH through their engagement with the organization and their commitment to their work. This year’s winner is Resilient Buildings Group, based in Concord.
One needs only to enter the Resilient Buildings Group office, where a collection of LEED certificates from past projects stretches floor to ceiling, to witness their commitment to high-performance buildings and energy efficiency. Their dedicated staff has assisted clients across New Hampshire, from Holderness and Derryfield Schools to Grappone Auto, Ava Gallery and Art Center, and even Lindt. From simple energy audits and benchmarking to advanced LEED consulting and custom energy services, the team at Resilient Buildings Group works with clients to improve their buildings and take advantage of the state’s energy efficiency programs and rebates. Resilient Buildings Group has been a longtime member of Clean Energy NH and continues to do great work across the state, even during the challenges of the 2020 pandemic.
Dana Nute, President of Resilient Buildings Group, says: “My team at RBG envisions a region in which new and existing structures become resilient, high performance buildings: energy efficient, comfortable, durable, cost effective to operate, healthy, and safe. It has been an uphill climb, but we have been making great strides over these years on a wide range of sustainable projects. We are committed, and shall work tirelessly to continue to meet our goals. By accepting this award, I would like to say that we look forward to a future of working with like-minded clients and energy partners to meet the goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”
Clean Energy NH’s mission is to promote clean energy and technologies through education and advocacy for a stronger economic future. Learn more at www.cleanenergynh.org.
Brianna Fiorillo is the Senior Program Director at Clean Energy NH
Leave a Reply