2024 DEI Impact Awards

Smart Energy Decisions (SED) announces the winners of its second annual DEI Impact Awards, which recognizes efforts in diversity, equity, and inclusion in clean energy.

"We commend the accomplishments of diverse groups within the clean energy community, whose talent and dedication were exemplified by the quality of nominations we received for this year’s DEI Impact Awards,” said Debra Chanil, Director of Editorial & Research, Smart Energy Decisions. “We are proud to share and celebrate their achievements in the industry this September at Net Zero Forum Fall.” 

Nominations were accepted from commercial, industrial, institutional, and government organizations across multiple categories. Winners were selected by the following panel of judges: Bambi Ingram (University of Alabama Birmingham Sustainability), Peter Kelly-Detwiler (NorthBridge Energy Partners, LLC), Jason Maronde (Bard College at Simon’s Rock), and Dr. Charles Marshall, III (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development).  

The 2024 DEI Impact Award Winners are:

• Project/Initiative: Clean Power Prescription, Boston Medical Center 

• Project/Initiative: Monitor Program, Pechanga Band of Indians

• Catalyst for Change: Dana Clare Redden, Founder of Solar Stewards 

• Catalyst for Change: Adrian Medrano, President of AMP Carriers, LLC 

• Team: Renewables & Energy Strategy Team, General Motors 

“As the exclusive DEI Impact Awards sponsor, Sol Systems believes in the power of diversity, equity, and inclusion to drive innovation and growth, aligning with our commitment to a more equitable and sustainable future,” said Susanne Fratzscher, Vice President, Strategic Solutions, Sol Systems. 

Award winners will be celebrated at SED’s Net Zero Forum Fall, to be held September 16-18, 2024, at the Westin Westminster in Colorado. Energy and sustainability professionals with Net Zero ambitions are encouraged to participate in the event’s educational sessions and 1:1 meetings. Click here for more information. 

MISSION:

Smart Energy Decisions is proud to present our second annual DEI Impact Awards to recognize and celebrate organizations that promote Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) while powering the energy transition. 

The awards will acknowledge company-wide efforts by large power users (commercial, industrial, institutional, and government) to advance DEI, specifically focusing on the impact and amplification of energy and sustainability programs. Achievements will be recognized across all areas of diversity, including race, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, persons with disabilities, gender identity, and beliefs.

For information on and inspiration from the 2023 DEI Impact Award winners, you can review the announcement of winners and the DEI Impact Awards Report.

KEY DATES 

May 6-June 28: Nominations accepted 
July 8-19: Judging by an independent panel
July 25: Winners notified
September 16-18: Net Zero Forum, including DEI Impact Awards Presentation, at the Westin Westminster, Westminster, CO

 FAQs

WHO CAN BE NOMINATED?

• Awards will only be presented to energy customers, including commercial, industrial, institutional (higher education, K-12 and healthcare), and government organizations.
• Individuals or groups from the energy/sustainability teams within an organization will be presented with the award. 
• A Partnership Award may be presented to the energy customer and DEI program partner, including utility, nonprofit organizations, associations, or foundations.
• Please note: Industry suppliers are not eligible to win an award, though they can nominate their customers from eligible organizations (commercial, industrial, institutional, and government). 
• While an individual or organization can be nominated in multiple categories, they may only be declared a winner in one category.

WHO CAN SUBMIT NOMINATIONS?

• Nominations may be submitted by any function/department at energy customer organizations (commercial, industrial, institutional, and government), as well as by suppliers, consultants, advisors, utilities, non-profit organizations, associations, and foundations with knowledge of the nominee’s DEI efforts. Individuals or groups at qualifying organizations may nominate themselves, as well as their colleagues or peers at other organizations.
• Nominations can be submitted in multiple categories. A separate nomination form must be submitted for each category. Please note: A company or person can only win a single award.
• An individual or organization may only submit up to three separate nominations. 

AWARD CATEGORIES

• Project/Initiative: Awarded to an organization that has demonstrated a commitment to DEI with a specific project or initiative related to energy/sustainability. This is awarded to an organization.
• Team: Awarded to a team that has worked to implement DEI in energy/sustainability efforts at their organization. This is awarded to a team or department at an organization. 
• Mentorship: Awarded to a person who has mentored an individual or group from diverse backgrounds, or to a person who has mentored management on how to introduce and implement DEI principles in an impactful and actionable way to their energy/sustainability department. This may be awarded to an individual or team. 
• Catalyst for Change: Awarded to a person who has led efforts to change the culture of an organization’s energy/sustainability operations in DEI or cultivated DEI principles within these operations. Examples include someone who has created a strategy or program, or has influenced the application of DEI to improve energy/sustainability functions such as policy changes, hiring, supplier choice, and other strategies. This is awarded to an individual. 
• Pay it Forward: Awarded to an organization, team or individual for energy/sustainability DEI efforts impacting communities where they serve or are located. Looking outside of your organization, how have your DEI efforts impacted the larger community? For example, have you started a program or initiative that grows community-wide benefits? This may be awarded to an individual, team or organization.  
• Partnership: Awarded to an organization for DEI strategies or programs in energy/sustainability created and implemented with external partners including utilities, non-profit organizations, associations or foundations.

  If you have any questions, please contact [email protected]