Next100 - A Dialogue on the Next Century of Energy

Nov 12 2008

The Envelope, Please...

PG&E last week announced the winners of its 7th annual Richard A. Clarke environmental leadership award. The award recognizes employees for extraordinary commitment to the company's various environmental initiatives.

Perhaps the only thing more inspiring than the work of the Clarke Award winners is the breadth and depth of the finalist pool. Just to name a few:

Karalee Browne, Program Officer, was recognized for her leadership in advancing PG&E's Solar Schools Program. Karalee's leadership efforts demonstrate PG&E's continued support of renewable energy and environmental education.

Karen Guedmin, Building Superintendent, was recognized for her leadership in making the San Ramon Valley Conference Center one of PG&E's greenest facilities and a certified "green business" in Contra Costa County. The facility's advancements in waste reduction and water and energy conservation have demonstrated significant cost savings, while shrinking the center's carbon footprint.

The PG&E and Audubon Habitat Restoration Partnership Team was recognized for its leadership in the development of an innovative "restoration license agreement" to allow Audubon California to restore 30 acres of native habitat at PG&E's Pleasant Creek Underground Gas Storage Facility in Yolo County. The agreement is replicable and can serve as a model for future restoration projects on PG&E lands.

The Safe Harbor Tulare Team was recognized for creating PG&E's first Safe Harbor Agreement (SHA) with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The PG&E Tulare Safe Harbor Agreement is one of only five SHAs in California and thirty in the United States.

And, finally...(drum roll) ... this year's individual and team Clarke Awards go to:

Kadi Whiteside, Water Quality Supervisor, was recognized for her leadership in spearheading the development of new practices and techniques to protect water quality, plants and animals at construction sites. Her innovative designs and management practices have benefited both PG&E and the environment -- saving the company time and money on construction projects and reducing potential environrmental impacts.

The Change a Light Campaign Core Team was recognized for its leadership in implementing a campaign during October and November 2007 to encourage PG&E customers to buy and use compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). The campaign helped save more than 400,000 megawatt-hours of electricity -- enough energy to power almost 60,000 homes for a year -- and avoid 200,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions, the equivalent of taking 31,000 cars off the road for a year.

Full disclosure: I had the esteemed honor of being a member of the Change a Light team.

Posted by: Katie Romans | Comments (0) Permalink