Environmental Defense Fund Awarded $500,000 In 2012 Zayed Future Energy Prize Competition

NEWS RELEASE

Contact:
Mica Odom, 512-691-3451, modom@edf.org
Miriam Horn, 646-641-9316, mhorn@edf.org

(Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – January 17, 2012) Zayed Future Energy Prize announced today that Environmental Defense Fund received the $500,000 second runner-up award in the Small-to-Medium Size Enterprises (SME) and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) category. Since 2009, the Zayed Future Energy Prize has acknowledged and rewarded impact, long-term vision, leadership and innovation in renewable energy and sustainability.

"We are deeply honored that Environmental Defense Fund’s renewable energy work has been recognized in the 2012 Zayed Future Energy Prize competition,” said Fred Krupp, Environmental Defense Fund President. “The award will help us ensure that the smart grid will also be a green grid, enabling far greater penetration of renewable energy and electric vehicles in the U.S. and ultimately throughout the world. 

It will also accelerate our work in energy efficiency. In recent years Environmental Defense Fund has helped companies, cities and universities find more than $1 billion in potential energy savings, and we are just one of many organizations working in this area. By investing in energy efficiency, organizations can both reduce pollution and earn a substantial financial return."

Environmental Defense Fund was one of seven finalists in the SME/NGO category, which underwent a multi-tiered evaluation process “according to the highest global standards.” Two major areas of Environmental Defense Fund's energy work are energy efficiency and carbon dioxide reduction. Both can help accelerate the deployment of large-scale clean technologies into the global energy market and secure the low-carbon energy system needed to avoid climate catastrophe.

“We accept this extraordinary award on behalf of a remarkable team of energy innovators, at Environmental Defense Fund as well as our partner organizations," added Eric Pooley, Environmental Defense Fund’s Senior Vice President for Strategy and Communications. "I particularly want to commend the work of our energy partners at the University of Texas at Austin, the Citizens Utility Board in Chicago, the Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies in San Francisco and many others. Only by working together can we leverage all the innovations needed to secure a clean energy future. The example set by the late Sheikh Zayed inspires us, and many around the world, in these powerful collaborative efforts. We thank the jurors and the Prize administrators for recognizing our work and carrying on his legacy.”

Carbon Disclosure Project received the $1.5 million prize in the NGO/SME category and Orb Energy received the $1 million first runner-up award. 

Environmental Defense Fund (edf.org), a leading nonprofit organization, creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. EDF links science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships. See http://twitter.com/EDFEnergyEX; http://facebook.com/EnvDefenseFund; and http://blogs.edf.org/energyexchange/