Energy Services Industry, Geller Named 'Stars of Energy Efficiency'

The Alliance to Save Energy is presenting New York Governor George E. Pataki with its highest award at the 2001 Evening with the Stars of Energy Efficiency dinner this month in Washington, D.C. "Governor Pataki's leadership during these sad recent weeks has shown all America - in fact, the whole world - what we at the Alliance have known for years: that Governor Pataki leads with strength, compassion, dignity, foresight, and personal commitment," said Alliance President David M. Nemtzow.

Alliance Chairman Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), who also is chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, will present the Charles H. Percy award to Governor Pataki at the black-tie dinner at Union Station October 24.

The Charles H. Percy Award, the Alliance's highest honor, is presented to a public official, private individual, or organization that has made an outstanding public service contribution to promote energy efficiency. The Award is named for former Senator Charles H. Percy, founding chair of the Alliance, who remains active in the organization.

In announcing the award to Governor Pataki for his "leadership in efforts to improve New York State's energy efficiency" and his "work to raise public awareness on energy efficiency," Nemtzow pointed out that Pataki:

• Reformed New York building codes so the state will have one of the strongest energy-saving codes in the nation and created a first-in-the-nation green building tax credit that is encouraging the construction of more energy efficient buildings throughout the state.
• Increased annual investment in innovative energy efficiency programs to more than $150 million by expanding New York's utility public benefits fund and served as the state's lead spokesperson for energy efficiency through popular television, radio, and print advertisements promoting the benefits of using Energy Star products.
• Required New York's older power plants to meet tougher emission standards, called for similar federal standards, and brought together senior leaders from the government, business, and environmental communities to find ways New York can reduce its carbon dioxide emissions to combat global climate change.
• Issued an Executive Order requiring all state buildings to obtain 20 percent of their electricity from renewable energy by 2010, proposed legislation to allow schools and local governments to use energy saving performance contracting programs developed at the state level, and is creating the first business park in the country devoted to developing clean energy technologies.

Past Charles H. Percy Award Honorees include Ted Turner, Senator Mark O. Hatfield, Habitat for Humanity, and then-Wisconsin Governor Tommy G. Thompson.

The Alliance also is presenting Stars of Energy Efficiency awards to the energy services industry (the ESCO Industry) and Howard S. Geller, former executive director of the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, for their efforts to improve energy productivity in the United States. They are receiving this award because of their collective effort to help save American businesses billions in energy bills and reduce thousands of tons of air pollution. Geller, who is globally recognized as a leader in energy efficiency, will receive his award for his 20-year record of leadership to the energy efficiency effort.

Former recipients of the Stars of Energy Efficiency include Senator Timothy E. Wirth, Representative Philip R. Sharp, Arthur Rosenfeld, the U.S. Department of Defense, Hector Ibarra (science teacher), IBM Corporation, Whirlpool Corporation, Toyota, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Maurice R. Strong, 3M Company, Owens Corning, Andersen Corporation, Bernard Jamet, The Durst Organization, and Denis Hayes.