Clean power industry celebrates diversity, inclusion with awards

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From left to right: Kathy Presperin (Blattner Company), Kim Hughes (American Electric Power), Rebecca Glazer (AES), Heather Zichal (ACP CEO). (Courtesy: ACP)

The American Clean Power Association (ACP) recently announced the winners of ACP’s new awards that recognize achievements in diversity, equity and inclusion during CLEANPOWER 2022.

The awards were announced as part of ACP’s Energy Transition for All initiative, an industry-wide program to ensure that workers, communities, and those historically left behind stand to benefit from the rapid growth of the clean-power sector in the United States.

The awards recognize companies and individuals that have committed to and have seen success in creating programs and cultures that support diversity and inclusion for all genders, ethnicities, sexual orientations, disability status, and veteran status.

The Breakout Woman+ of the Year award winners include:

• Rebecca Glazer, AES Clean Energy Senior Director of Growth Initiatives, who brought renewable energy projects online for Google, a leading AES customer. Those projects deliver greener, smarter energy, supplied by a fleet of renewables, including solar, wind, hydropower, and energy-storage assets. Based on the success of this project, Glazer now leads the evaluation of AES Clean Energy investments, supporting AES’ industry-changing clean energy solutions.

• Kathy Presperin, Blattner Company’s Chief Supply Chain Officer, is recognized for her leadership in supply chain planning, procurement, and strategy where it benefits not only the organization but also its customers, community, and suppliers. Presperin and her team have created a foundation that allowed Blattner to continue to build projects, even while the world experienced a supply-chain crisis.

American Electric Power (AEP) was awarded the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for its commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive environment that supports development and advancement for all.

“Coming together to celebrate these industry leaders who are the face of the energy transition was one of the highlights of CLEANPOWER 2022,” said Heather Zichal, ACP CEO. “Our Energy Transition for All initiative is more than just words in a report. These award winners demonstrate the commitment of the current leadership and of our industry toward the mission of creating an equitable transition for all.”

Today, utility-scale solar, wind, and battery storage represent roughly 13 percent of electricity generation in the U.S. By 2030, the clean-energy industry could account for as much as 50 percent of the electricity produced in the U.S. — creating 500,000 jobs, attracting $700 billion in new investment, and reimagining how power is generated and delivered across the United States.

American Clean Power’s Energy Transition for All initiative is a multi-year program designed to expand opportunities for workers and to help spur local economic development by promoting diversity, equity and inclusion across the clean power sector.

MORE INFO  cleanpower.org