• Press Releases

American Council On Renewable Energy Honors Industry Leaders at Fifteenth Anniversary Gala

Amazon, National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Google Awarded for Renewable Energy Innovation and Industry Impact

WASHINGTON, March 15, 2017 – The American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE), a national non-profit organization dedicated to leading the transition to a renewable energy economy, celebrated its fifteen year anniversary by hosting a gala event at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington D.C.

The evening celebration brought together a diverse group of leaders in the renewable energy industry, along with public officials and longtime supporters, to highlight ACORE’s many achievements and the dramatic growth in the sector throughout the years. The gala also provided an opportunity to honor three unique organizations – Amazon, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), and Google – for their tremendous contributions to the development and innovation of the renewable energy industry.

“There’s no doubt that the transition to a renewable energy economy is well underway,” said ACORE’s President and Chief Executive Officer Greg Wetstone. “On behalf of our outstanding board of directors and member companies, we are thrilled to recognize these organizations for their enormous influence in the greening of our nation’s electricity grid.”

ACORE presented Amazon with the Corporate Innovation and Industry Leadership Award for the company’s role in developing new approaches to corporate procurement of renewable power. “By bringing the development of new renewable energy into their operations around the country, Amazon has played a leading role in the growth of the sector and created groundbreaking pathways for other companies to follow. Amazon has used its innovative market leadership to expand awareness and pave the way for even more renewable energy procurement by corporate America,” remarked Wetstone.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s NREL received ACORE’s Technology Advancement and Industry Impact Award for its four decades of contributions to the evolution of the renewable energy sector. Wetstone commented that “the country’s growing renewable energy sector, which has seen nearly $100 billion in investment over the past two years, would not be the massive economic driver it is today were it not for the productive efforts by NREL. This great institution has produced more than 100 patents and, even today, boasts active partnerships with nearly 700 companies, educational institutions and local governments.”

Google received the Corporate Innovation and Industry Leadership Award in recognition of its pioneering role promoting corporate procurement of and investment in renewable energy, and its ambitious commitment to power its global operations with 100 percent renewable energy by the end of 2017. “Google has used its status and purchasing power to change the electricity marketplace — opening up new avenues for corporate procurement, and becoming the largest corporate purchaser of renewable energy in the world,” added Wetstone.

ACORE15thAnniversaryGala 413

Teresa Carlson, Vice President – Worldwide Public Sector, receives ACORE’s Corporate Innovation and Industry Leadership Award on behalf of Amazon

ACORE15thAnniversaryGala 526

Dr. Martin Keller, Director, receives ACORE’s Technology Advancement and Industry Impact Award on behalf of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory

ACORE15thAnniversaryGala 569

Michael Terrell, ‎Head of Energy Policy and Market Development, receives ACORE’s Corporate Innovation and Industry Leadership Award on behalf of Google

For more photographs of the event, please visit ACORE’s Flickr.

###

About ACORE:
The American Council On Renewable Energy (ACORE) is a national non-profit organization dedicated to providing value to the renewable energy industry through market development, policy changes, and financial innovation. With hundreds of member companies from across the spectrum of renewable energy technologies, consumers, and investors, ACORE is uniquely positioned to promote the policies and financial structures essential to growth in the renewable energy sector. The organization’s annual conferences in Washington, D.C., New York and San Francisco set the industry standard in providing important venues for key leaders to meet, discuss recent developments, and hear the latest from senior government officials and seasoned experts.

Media Contact:
Anna Hahnemann, ACORE
hahnemann@acore.org,
(202) 777-7548