2012 Solar Oregon Award Winners

The votes are in and we are proud to announce the winners of our first-ever Solar Oregon Awards as decided by our members, staff and board. Applause … Applause … Applause …

Volunteer of the Year Award

POORNA (ARVIND) SRIDHARAN

Poorna is a recent arrival from her native country of India and is currently working on her Master's Degree in Environmental Engineering Technology at Oregon Health and Science University.  Poorna spent time with Solar Oregon this summer volunteering to help us create some development tools like doing market research and building a commercial solar database for our staff.  With her assistance we hope to expand our professional membership capacity in 2013. It was a busy (first) summer for Poorna. During the time she volunteered for Solar Oregon, she was also dancing at the Anjali School of Dance (Portland) performing in a rendering of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” which included a variety of dance styles from India.

Solar Ambassador of the Year Award

MARK PENGILLY

Mark is a tireless advocate for solar power. For the past several years he has worked on public policy to pass Feed-In Tariff legislation in Oregon, which would make residential solar systems more affordable for homeowners and small businesses. As lawyer for thirty years, Mark has worked as a mediator and arbitrator since 2000. His pro-bono work has included representing the interests of homeowners, ratepayers, clean tech professionals and organizations such as Solar Oregon and OREP to the state legislature, PUC, local government agencies and the governor’s office. As advisor on Multnomah County Commission’s renewable energy policy, Mark was involved with the Governor’s Renewable Energy Working Group, which developed policy for the Oregon’s Feed-In Tariff concept.  

Solar Professional of the Year Award

PAUL ISRAEL

Paul is a true solar pioneer and the President/Owner of Sunlight Solar Energy, which he founded in 1988. Today his company has 50+ employees and growing, while doing business in three states. Paul co-founded the Central Oregon Green & Solar Home Tour; partnered on residential solarize campaigns – including Go Solar! Central Oregon; partnered with Habitat for Humanity to get solar on new housing; and co-sponsored this year’s Solar Now! University - which was held in Bend where his business is headquartered. Besides what he does for his business, community, and for Solar Oregon, Paul sits on the board of directors for OSEIA and has been appointed to governmental energy advisory committees.

These three people will be presented their awards at our upcoming 2nd Annual Community Dinner at Aviary on the evening of December 4, 2012. In the meantime, we recognize and honor all nominees for 2012. These people are all outstanding and we THANK them for giving their time to support renewable energy and for their generous service to Solar Oregon.

VOLUNTEER NOMINEES
Poorna Arvind
Gary Bachofner
Kim Berhorst
Fred Kersteins
Dave Lindoo
Morgan Mulkey
Nora Nelson

SOLAR AMBASSADOR NOMINEES
Kathy Bash
Matt Briggs
Andy & Kathy Kerr
Richard & Pauline Mather
Corey Omey
Mark Pengilly