AWEA - American Wind Energy Association

In January 2010, the wind industry lost a true champion and leader in the siting community, when Andrew “Andy” Linehan lost his long-term battle with cancer. Prior to his passing, Andy exhibited his leadership time and again through his participation in both the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Wind Energy Guidelines Federal Advisory Committee and the Siting Committee. He identified new and cost-efficient ways (examples of which included stakeholder engagement, mitigation, and monitoring to name a few) to address the variety of siting issues facing the industry. Through his leadership and overall enthusiasm for the industry and the environment, Andy represented the epitome of excellence. This award is presented in his memory to those leaders in the siting community who exhibit similar qualities and are constantly striving to improve the siting practices of the wind industry, an endeavor that in turn helps to preserve the collective brand image that sets this industry apart from other forms of energy generation.

Evaluation Criteria:

• Individual has worked in the wind industry for three or more years.

• Individual is in a leadership position with development or owner/operator company and able to influence siting/permitting policy for his or her organization.

• Individual has demonstrated leadership in the area of siting and has helped advance a new or unique way of addressing siting issues which serve to benefit the industry as a whole.

• Individual engages regularly with the AWEA Siting Committee and other stakeholders so that the broader industry benefits from the work/experience.

• Preferably, but not required, the individual should display an interest in wildlife, conservationism, bio-recreation, etc., outside of work life.

This award is given to an individual who has significantly advanced the market for distributed wind applications, either through furthering policy, education, outreach, system testing/certification, research, analysis, product development or deployment. 

Evaluation Criteria:

• Individual has demonstrated strong leadership traits.

• Individual has shown innovative approaches/solutions to a challenge in the distributed wind area.

• Individual has advocated for distributed wind policies on a state and federal level.

• Individual has helped educate his/her peers.

• Individual has helped unify different areas of distributed wind energy.

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This award is given to the individual or company responsible for outstanding commercial achievement in the areas of new financing structures, contracting, electricity market participation and grid operations, applications of technology, community relations, landowner relations, siting, permitting, and logistics.

Evaluation Criteria:
• Individual/Company has shown strong leadership in the industry.
• Individual/Company has shown innovative business practices that are widely applicable.
• Individual/Company has helped reduce costs and improve performance.
• Individual/Company has helped educate peers.
• Individual/Company engages other stakeholders so that the broader industry benefits from the work/experience.

This award honors wind professionals and companies whose technical work and innovation have contributed significantly to the achievement of viable projects that reduce the cost of delivered energy.

Evaluation Criteria:
• Technical contribution significantly advances the level of technical quality in the industry.
• Achievement is innovative and broadly applicable in the wind industry.
• Innovation contributes to making wind power applicable to broader areas and accessible to larger populations.
• Achievement results in more productive or durable equipment and systems available to the wind industry.
• Achievement results in lower-cost wind power delivered to target customers.

This award recognizes an individual or company for excellence in efficient and effective operation of a wind farm. This award winner will have collaborated with others in the wind industry to improve the quality of O&M services, increased production and lowered cost.

Evaluation Criteria:
• Individual/Company records high levels of availability for the wind farm when the wind has been available.
• Individual/Company employs advanced techniques to schedule wind turbine maintenance and minimize down-time’s output impact.
• Individual/Company demonstrates the most advanced techniques for monitoring and tracking the health of turbine components.
• Individual/Company maintains effective relationships with landowners, utilities, regulators.
• Individual/Company records low levels of safety incidents and demonstrates leadership in advancing AWEA’s safety agenda.

This award is given to the U.S. electric utility that has done the most to advance wind power’s growth through their actions. Installation of significant amounts of wind power, either under contract to a third party or owned and operated by the utility is a key consideration, but not the only consideration. Efforts also to be considered are the advancement of wind integration efforts, transmission infrastructure development to enable wind power’s growth, or similar efforts related to bringing on new wind power projects for the benefit of their electric customers. The award is presented to the utility that has accomplished the most for wind power in general and done it in a way that benefits other utilities and/or the entire wind energy industry as a result.

Evaluation Criteria:
• Utility has brought online a very significant amount of wind power onto its system, either through long-term contract / PPA or via utility-owned and operated projects.
• Utility has advanced a key element of wind power such as wind energy-enabling transmission, wind integration, siting, operations and maintenance or other elements.
• Utility has worked with state regulators, local organizations, and/or other stakeholders to make significant progress in community relations and stakeholder acceptance concerning wind projects in its region.
• Utility has made exceptional strides in working with customers and businesses to grow the retail sales of wind energy or significant increased demand for wind energy through a green pricing program or similar customer-driven program.
• Utility has taken a leadership role in legislative or lobbying efforts at a state, regional, or federal level that benefits wind energy industry efforts.

In August 2011, AWEA and the wind industry lost an icon and a true champion of wind energy. Britt Theismann joined AWEA as Membership Director in 2005, and, with wind power experiencing exponential growth, led the recruitment of hundreds of supply chain companies into the U.S. industry and AWEA membership. As COO, he led the effort to reorganize AWEA and develop its human resources to make it the strong vital organization it has become. Britt's passion for his work and for building a strong domestic wind power industry were an inspiration to all who worked with him and knew him. This award honors a wind professional who has consistently demonstrated strong leadership, integrity, values, vision, commitment to excellence, and commitment to the wind community.

Evaluation Criteria:
• Individual has had a significant impact in the wind energy industry over the past year.
• Individual is in a leadership position and has shown commitment to building a future with clean, affordable, and homegrown wind energy.
• Individual has demonstrated innovation and has helped advance the U.S. wind energy industry.
• Individual has been a strong advocate of wind energy by showcasing the importance of wind energy to state and federal policymakers.
• Individual has been integral in building partnerships across different facets of the industry.