Seven Winning Programs Represent Best-in-Class State Leadership in Advancing Clean Energy Policy, Finance and Technology in the United States

Montpelier, VT – Today Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA) announced seven winners of the 2012 State Leadership in Clean Energy (SLICE) Awards, given to recognize state projects and programs that demonstrate exemplary leadership and innovation in clean energy development.

"Despite challenging economic conditions and uncertainty over continuing federal support, the SLICE Award-winning state programs have demonstrated innovation, supported emerging technologies, and advanced clean energy markets," said Mark Sinclair, Executive Director of CESA. "After a decade of experience working with clean energy funds across the country, CESA feels confident that these programs represent the best of what's out there today."

This year's winners are New York's Clean Energy Business Incubator Program and On-Site Wind Market Development Program, both administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA); Connecticut's Clean Energy Finance and Investment Authority's (CEFIA) CT Solar Lease Program; the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center's Commonwealth Solar Hot Water Pilot Program; the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission's Residential Wood-Pellet Boiler Rebate Program; and two projects by the California Energy Commission: the University of California, San Diego Microgrid, and the Synchrophasor Research and Development Program.

CESA's SLICE Awards recognize state programs that are most effectively accelerating adoption of clean energy technologies. SLICE Award winners have funded and supported innovative programs, established funds that provide critical capital investment for clean energy projects, and have collaborated effectively with industry partners, utility commissions, and local governments, all crucial ways to expand the clean energy market.

CESA member organizations from across the U.S. submitted nominations for the SLICE Awards. Winners were chosen by a panel of six distinguished judges, including representatives of the U.S. Department of Energy, the National Renewable Energy Lab, and several energy organizations. A detailed report on this year's SLICE Award winners, including bios of the judges, is available on the CESA website: http://www.cleanenergystates.org/assets/2012-Files/CESA-SLICE-Report.pdf.

The SLICE Awards will be presented to the winners on Oct. 22, at a special reception held during the CESA Fall Membership Meeting in Albany, N.Y., hosted by NYSERDA. Members of the press are welcome to attend and photos will be made available after the event.

In addition, members of the media are welcome to join CESA's series of informational webcasts about the SLICE Award winners:

2012 SLICE WEBCAST SCHEDULE

· NYSERDA small wind and business incubator programs – November 15, 1 p.m. Eastern

· New Hampshire PUC Biomass program – November 19, 2 p.m. Eastern

· California Energy Commission synchrophasor and microgrid programs – November 27, 2 p.m. Eastern

· MassCEC Solar Hot Water and CEFIA CT Solar Leasing programs – November 29, 2 p.m. Eastern

For more information about the SLICE Awards ceremony or how to join the webcasts, please contact Marissa Newhall at (202) 527-9196 or marissa@cleanegroup.org.

About Clean Energy States Alliance: Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA) is the only national nonprofit organization representing the collective voice of public clean energy funds. CESA provides information sharing, technical assistance services, and a collaborative network by coordinating multi-state efforts, leveraging funding for projects and research, and assisting clean energy programs with program development and evaluation. For more information, visit www.cleanenergystates.org.