NEEP celebrated its 20th anniversary by honoring four women with lifetime achievement awards
LEXINGTON, MA, July 6, 2016 – Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP) recently honored four women for their pioneering leadership in the energy efficiency field. NEEP recognized Gina McCarthy, Dr. Kathleen Hogan, Beth Sachs, and Meredith Hatfield for their life-long contributions to advancing energy efficiency. The women were honored as part of NEEP’s 20th Anniversary Celebration dinner at the 2016 Northeast Energy Efficiency Summit held at the Omni Mt. Washington Resort in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire June 13.
“NEEP is proud to recognize these four women whose extraordinary contributions and leadership for energy efficiency have been impactful and inspiring, have generated change, and have sparked opportunity beyond expectations, said NEEP Executive Director Sue Coakley.
These women were honored with Leadership & Achievement awards for their contributions to advancing energy efficiency as outlined below:
Gina McCarthy - Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
For being a visionary, persuasive champion, and dedicated leader of energy efficiency as a powerful climate and environmental solution.
Appointed by President Obama in 2009, McCarthy first served as Assistant Administrator for EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation prior to her current appointment. She has been a leading advocate for common-sense strategies to protect public health and the environment. During her career, which spans over 30 years, she has worked at both the state and local levels on critical environmental issues and helped coordinate policies on economic growth, energy, transportation and the environment.
Dr. Kathleen Hogan - Deputy Asst. Secretary for Energy Efficiency, the U.S. Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
For brilliant foresight, inspiring leadership, and impactful collaboration to realize energy efficiency as a powerful climate solution.
Dr. Hogan oversees a more than $600 million annual energy efficiency policy, program, and research portfolio, including advanced manufacturing, buildings, federal energy management, low income weatherization, and intergovernmental partnerships. As part of EERE's senior leadership, she helps to implement and achieve national energy efficiency goals, including those laid out in the President's Climate Action Plan.
Beth Sachs - Co-founder, Vermont Energy Investment Corporation (VEIC)
For being an influential champion, leader and innovator to unleash the power of energy efficiency as an equitable, affordable and sustainable energy resource.
Sachs co-founded VEIC in 1986 with partner Blair Hamilton and served as its Executive Director for 22 years. VEIC is a mission-driven nonprofit working globally to reduce the economic and environmental impact of energy production and use through energy efficiency and renewable energy. VEIC employs more than 300 energy professionals in its Vermont headquarters and offices in Ohio and the District of Columbia.
Meredith Hatfield - Former Director of the New Hampshire Office of Energy and Planning
For unwavering leadership to advance energy efficiency in New Hampshire to provide sustainable and affordable energy for all.
Hatfield has worked on a range of energy and environmental issues in New Hampshire for the last 16 years in both the public and private sectors. Her first energy job was at the predecessor agency, the Governor’s Office of Energy and Community Services, where Hatfield played a key role in developing the statewide “Core” energy efficiency programs. She has also led the development of a 10-year State Energy Strategy and a review of the state’s energy siting process. She recently left the NH Office of Energy and Planning to become a program office for the Barr Foundation’s Climate team.