2024 Power Player Awards Winners Press Release May 1, 2024 | By Carole Bernard WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) is pleased to announce the winners of the highly anticipated 2024 SEPA Power Player Awards. Recognizing excellence and leadership in energy innovation across the U.S., these awards signify a pivotal moment in the collective journey toward a decarbonized electric power system. This year’s award categories are intricately tied to SEPA’s critical focus areas: resilience, transportation, energy storage, emerging technology, policy, and energy equity — reflecting the collective efforts needed to address opportunities and key challenges to progress a carbon-free system. “Recognizing and celebrating the phenomenal accomplishments of our outstanding Power Player Award winners, finalists, and nominees provides our sector with boundless inspiration,” shared Sheri Givens, President and CEO of SEPA. “Their steadfast commitment to advancing tangible, real-world solutions in clean energy underscores our shared journey towards a cleaner tomorrow. Each of these projects exemplifies innovation, leadership, and teamwork – fundamental elements propelling us toward a brighter future. My heartfelt congratulations to all recipients for their pioneering strides!” SEPA’s 2024 Power Player Awards honor the outstanding contributions of utilities, corporations, regulators, policymakers, and other energy stakeholders, project teams, and/or individuals, who played an essential role in advancing actionable decarbonization solutions between January 1, 2023, and December 31, 2023. SEPA received over 120 nominations nationwide, and with the assistance of internal and external energy leaders, selected 6 award winners and 17 finalists in the six categories. The panel of judges, composed of members from SEPA’s Research Advisory Council, Program Advisory Council, and SEPA’s internal subject matter experts, participated in an impartial and equitable evaluation process. The winners were recognized at a Power Player Awards ceremony on April 30, 2024, in Coronado, California, in conjunction with SEPA’s inaugural Energy Evolution Summit. The six award categories awardees include: Resilience Power Player of the Year Awardee Vermont’s largest investor-owned utility, Green Mountain Power, is enhancing grid resiliency, safety, and equity through innovative initiatives aimed at keeping customers connected in severe weather and addressing climate change impacts. Their initiatives include Lift the Cap, Resilient Neighborhood, and Zero Outages. Transportation Electrification Power Player of the Year Awardees In New York, the nonprofit NYC School Bus Umbrella Services (NYCSBUS), partnered with Mobility House, World Resource Institute, New York League of Conservation Voters, and CALSTART on the Electrifying School Buses in the Bronx (ESBB) project. ESBB addresses the transition to electric school buses by focusing on training for drivers and mechanics, developing charging infrastructure, and creating a mobility hub, with plans to expand these efforts across NYCSBUS’ fleet and serve as a model for nationwide adoption. Both NYCSBUS and Mobility House are being honored for their innovation in progressing electric school buses and charging infrastructure. Energy Storage Power Player of the Year Awardees In Arizona, the Salt River Project, a community-based, not-for-profit organization providing water and power to more than 2 million people partnered with CMBlu Energy to launch the Desert Blume long-duration energy storage pilot at its Copper Crossing site in Florence, Arizona. CMBlu’s non-flammable, recyclable SolidFlowTM battery technology aims to surpass traditional lithium-ion batteries in efficiency, life span, and recyclability. It is set to become the world’s largest utility-scale, long-term installation of its kind, expected to power approximately 1,125 homes for 10 hours upon its operational start in December 2025. Both Salt River Project and CMBlu are being honored with an award for their innovative contributions to long-duration energy storage. Emerging Technology Power Player of the Year Awardees In Texas, Adaptix.Grid by Sensewaves, in collaboration with AEP Texas, is enhancing grid reliability and enabling smart operations through artificial intelligence-powered analytics, overcoming challenges posed by aging infrastructure and the slow impact of advanced distribution management system technologies by swiftly integrating distributed energy resources and improving operational efficiency by up to 96%. Both Sensewaves and AEP Texas are being honored with an award for their innovative contributions to grid modernization and efficiency improvements. Policy Power Player of the Year Awardees In California, Edison International’s subsidiary, Southern California Edison, a utility providing electricity to 15 million people, progressed Countdown to 2045. They conducted detailed in-house analysis and issued calls to action, emphasizing the urgency of California’s clean energy transition. As mandated by state law, Assembly Bill 1279, California seeks to achieve an 85% greenhouse gas emissions reduction and net zero by 2045, offering a feasible and cost-effective path to decarbonize the state’s electric grid and key economic sectors. Both Edison International and Southern California Edison are being honored with an award for their continued advocacy efforts to meet California’s 2045 net zero goal. Equity Power Player of the Year Awardee In California, the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD), a community-owned utility providing electricity to 1.5 million customers, aims to achieve zero carbon emissions by 2030, the most ambitious target among large U.S. utilities. SMUD focuses on inclusivity and equity through the Sustainable Communities Resource Priorities Map and the Community Impact Plan. These resources address energy inequities and aim to benefit all communities in Sacramento by improving health, creating jobs, and fostering resilience to climate change. Additionally, SMUD is working to develop a diverse, inclusive future workforce in clean energy and related fields. For additional information, please visit SEPA’s Power Player Awards webpage. About SEPA: The Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA), a 501(c)(3) organization with over 1,000 members, is dedicated to accelerating the transformation to a carbon-free electricity system. Focused on five critical focus areas including resilience, transportation, energy storage, emerging technology, and policy, SEPA brings together a diverse community of electric power stakeholders committed to driving positive change. By actively shaping the future of the industry, SEPA delivers exceptional value to its extensive membership through comprehensive research, educational initiatives, engaging events, and collaborative projects. SEPA plays a vital role in contributing to the collective efforts towards a carbon-free energy landscape. For more information, please visit www.sepapower.org. Share Share on TwitterShare on FacebookShare on LinkedIn About the Author Carole Bernard Vice President, Marketing and Communications Carole joined SEPA in March 2024. In her role, she will lead the marketing and communications department and be responsible for elevating SEPA’s brand through storytelling, developing topline messaging, increasing awareness about SEPA’s mission-impact, and engaging key stakeholders to participate in SEPA’s critical work. Carole brings to SEPA more than 20 years of nonprofit leadership experience in executive management, strategic communications, community and public relations, and advocacy. She most recently served as the Vice President of Communications for GRID Alternatives, an international nonprofit that builds community-powered solutions to advance economic and environmental justice through renewable energy in underserved communities. She also has served as the CEO of the Amara Legal Center, the Director of Communications for the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, and the Director of Communications for the National Minority AIDS Council and Paralyzed Veterans of America. She received her Master’s Degree in Journalism from Boston University and her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Framingham State College.