Asterisks and Advances
We officially kicked-off our IREC@35 year with a tremendously successful event in Washington, DC, March 8th
. It was an extraordinary evening with IREC friends, supporters and partners during which we reveled in our collective achievements, acknowledged the challenges ahead, and celebrated the legendary accomplishments of our dear friend and respected colleague, IREC President Emeritus Jane Weissman.
We also had the pleasure of honoring
two distinctive 2017 IREC Energy Heroes: U.S. Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) and Congressman Paul Tonko (D-NY), each of whom has a long career of championship for clean energy technology, jobs and a clean energy economy.
We released a new report the same day,
IREC IMPACT@35, which highlights the top 8 results of IREC's impactful work over more than three decades, along with a complementary
Impact@35 Timeline. Inside the report, you'll see evidence of IREC's transformational work in regulatory arenas in nearly every state, and our national leadership in clean energy workforce development, historically and today.
Throughout this year and beginning with this report, we celebrate the fact that clean energy systems are no longer small asterisks at the edge of the electricity grid. They are now central to the efficient operation of the complete grid, representing 61 percent of all new electric generating capacity brought online in 2016.
Today's remarkable successes - just dreams 35 years ago - propel us forward, more determined than ever to protect our progress and advance our goals. The current environment in which we operate is simply another obstacle. We've spent 35 years breaking through barriers. Thank you for your support and partnership as we tackle our next challenges with the same level of determination and fact-based ammunition as history tells us will succeed.
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Four installment series on interconnection in GreenTech Media
11/1/16
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Thanks to our generous
SUPPORTERS
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Support IREC!
IREC counts on public
and private funds to produce the success stories you've come to depend on since 1982. Join our corporate sponsors and individual donors who
enable IREC to continue to shape positive trends, meet state and federal challenges, solve problems and make progress toward a clean energy future. Find out about corporate sponsorship opportunities or make a personal donation today.
The Interstate Renewable Energy Council, Inc. is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization proud of its national reputation for independent, unique expertise and unbiased, thought-leading publications and resources. Our sponsors understand that IREC's important work is in no way influenced by the generosity of their tax-deductible donation.
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Solar power: Abigail Hopper, Julia Hamm, Tom Starrs celebrate with Jane Weissman |
It was a festive evening and a milestone celebration. More than 100 colleagues, friends and supporters came together March 8th in Washington, DC, to honor IREC's Chief Energy Hero, Jane Weissman, for her legendary lifetime achievements in clean energy. The event highlighted IREC's Impact@35 years and acknowledged the championship of two elected officials as 2017 IREC Energy Heroes.
"The room was packed full of people who make a difference - who have turned the dial from a clean energy future to today's clean energy reality," said Weissman.
A Congressional citation was presented to Jane from the U.S. Senate, and former IREC presidents and founders together read a detailed proclamation that highlighted the results of her path-defining careeer.
Against the backdrop of "the stunning political reality we are in now," Weissman shared some brief thoughts about the "game changers that need to be substituted in, so we don't lose home court advantage."
To a standing ovation, she concluded: "I thank the IREC Board for having confidence in me for so many years. I thank all of our funders for their trust. And, I thank a staff who put up with my 5am start time. It's a dream to have a job that you awake to eagerly, have that energy buzz all day, and end tired but ready to start the next day." More
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 A new report details the Top 8 Results of IREC's impactful leadership shaping a sustainable energy future over its 35-year history.
"These transformative results are built upon IREC's foundational work in nearly every state," said Board Chair Larry Shirley. "Our work continues, increasing access to sustainable energy and energy efficiency through independent fact-based policy leadership, quality workforce development and consumer empowerment."
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From auspicious beginnings as a locus for state energy offices to share experiences, to a trusted, indispensable leader in the clean energy community, IREC's 35-year influence runs wide and deep. This timeline, a complement to the IREC Impact@35 Report, reflects IREC's 360-degree expertise on the relevant, timely issues of the day and critical planning for the future. The results are clearly visible in today's clean energy policies, practices and exponential market growth.
IREC's consumer focus has made clean energy possible for millions more Americans, including lower income families and underserved communities. Our work removes regulatory and economic barriers and drives national efforts to ensure workers in clean energy and allied industries are prepared with skills for quality workmanship, which builds consumer confidence, the foundation for market growth.
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 It's that time of year! Time to apply for IREC's 2017 3iAwards for innovation, ingenuity, inspiration!
Applications from or on behalf of extraordinary people, projects and programs in the clean energy arena will be accepted online through March 24, 2017 in one of five categories:
- Community Renewables Project of the Year
- State and Local Government Initiative of the Year
- Regulatory Champion of the Year
- IREC Accredited Clean Energy Training Organization of the Year
- IREC Certified Clean Energy Instructor/Master Trainer of the Year
The 2017 IREC 3iAward winners will be honored at InterSolar North America in San Francisco, July 11, with the generous support of IREC's corporate sponsors.
Submit your nominations today!
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IREC Shares Interconnection Expertise at Energy Storage & Regulatory Utility Commissioners Conferences
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Last month, IREC Regulatory Program Director Sara Baldwin Auck presented at both the Energy Storage Association (ESA) breakfast at the Winter Meeting of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) and the ESA Policy Forum. She previewed a soon-to-be-released IREC tool for regulators, "Charging Ahead: An Energy Storage Guide for Policymakers." Auck was also a panelist for a NARUC interconnection session titled "Reimagining State Interconnection Rules for Distributed Generation Plug-and-Play Procedures."
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IREC and its STEP partners (Solar Training and Education for Professionals) is offering new, job-focused professional solar training opportunities for local building code officials and firefighters at some 40 locations across the US. in 2017. The in-person training complements interactive online training courses accessible to these and other professionals who can benefit from learning more about solar technologies, critical to job efficiency and safety, and ultimately consumer savings.
| Solar Permitting Plan Review |
3/23 Redding CA
3/27 Plano TX
4/12 Newport RI
4/13 Harker Heights TX
4/16 Riverside CA
5/23 Sebasco ME
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| Solar PV Safety for Firefighters |
5/16 Cape Cod MA
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For more information and additional training dates, contact Laure-Jeanne Davignon at 518.621.7379 or email
laurejeanne
@irecusa.org
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of note...
 As a national technical/advisor in DOE's Solar Market Pathways Initiative, IREC collaborates with the Institute for Sustainable Communities, the Regulatory Assistance Project and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to provide technical assistance to the Pathways' teams and create an expanded learning network that connects solar stakeholders across the U.S.
The
Institute for Sustainable Communities
invites local leaders to attend a workshop to help communities become more resilient through the use of solar to support facilities such as shelters, medical centers or emergency facilities during power outages.
The workshop will highlight best practices and tools developed by Solar Market Pathways awardees. Learn how to implement solar+storage in your community. DEADLINE to register (free) is April 14.
The
Center for Sustainable Energy
launched an online marketplace for multifamily building owners to learn more about solar and to be paired with solar contractors. The
EnergySage Solar Marketplace
will help property owners gather and compare solar quotes with ease to make the transition to solar simple.
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ABOUT IREC
IREC is an independent national not-for- profit organization that envisions a world powered by clean sustainable energy, where society's interests are valued and protected. IREC galvanizes nationwide adoption of sustainable and efficient energy through fact-based policy leadership, quality workforce development and consumer empowerment. Our work over the past 35 years propelled the incredible clean energy growth trends we are seeing today - building a strong foundation of clean energy state and national policy best practices and quality workforce training standards and programs.
IREC relies on the generosity of donors, sponsors and program funder support. http://www.irecusa.org
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Disclaimer
The Interstate Renewable Energy Council, Inc. (IREC) does not assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product or process that is linked to in this newsletter. Read the full Disclaimer.
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Honored 2017 Energy Heroes are:
