The Interstate Renwable Energy Council (IREC) recently announced the winners of its Innovation Awards, with PG&E's Solar Schools Program making the impressive list. The award focused on creative market expansion policies and educating young students and new practitioners. Recipients were chosen for demonstrating new policy approaches, creative integration of on-site and Web-based communications, and the strength of partnerships lead to innovation.
"All winners deserve our thanks and encouragement for giving us viable models and best practices so that moving renewable energy into mainstream markets gets closer everyday," said Jane Weissman, IREC's Executive Director.
Four winners were selected through a competitive process. In addition to PG&E, Washington State's Production Incentives for Small-Scale Renewable Resources Program, NYSERDA's School Power...Naturally 50 Schools Program, and NABCEP's PV Entry Level of Knowledge Program were also recognized. "All of this year's applicants demonstrated inventive ways of using and growing renewable energy markets. Selecting just four winners was not an easy task," said IREC's Awards Committee Chair, Ken Jurman.
Through a unique partnership, the PG&E Solar Schools Program addresses climate change in a way that benefits underserved schools, students, and the broader community. The program inspires students to become the solar innovators and scientists of tomorrow, and community members to install solar on their homes and businesses. This program takes the resources of the private sector, the talents and "know how" of the nonprofit sector, and addresses the needs of the public sector to help catalyze solar energy projects and work toward mitigating climate change. In addition to PG&E, other partners in the program include The Foundation for Environmental Education and The NEED Project.
For more information, see the official press release.
