Arkansas HVACR NewsMagazine November 2019

S tate, National, Chapter News State national Chapter News

Director of State and Local Climate Strategy for the National Audubon Society. Attendees also heard from utility executives – SWEPCO’s Brian Bond, Entergy Arkansas’s Kurt Castleberry and Arkansas Electric Cooperatives’ and Today’s Power’s Michael Henderson – about the growing use of a wide range of advanced energy technologies within their respective companies. The winners of the 2019 Arkansas Advanced Energy Awards also were announced at emPOWERing Arkansas . Senator Dave Wallace was named the recipient of the Ron Bell Advanced Energy Leadership award , recognizing an individual with a strong record of outstanding and consistent contributions to Arkansas’s advanced energy industry, whose work is having a significant, sustainable impact on the industry.

Senator Wallace’s Solar Access Act enables solar leasing for all solar customers and creates a needed avenue for third-party purchasing for non-taxed entities. The legislation has had a positive impact on the state’s solar market. From the drafting process to the bill signing, Senator Wallace’s steadfast commitment to improving Arkansas’s solar landscape and his exceptional personal leadership was critical to the ultimate success of the Solar Access Act. Gary Moody , Director of State and Local Climate Strategy for the National Audubon Society, was announced as the Advanced Energy Rising Star for his contributions and growing industry impact. Gary has been a tireless advocate for improvements to Arkansas’s advanced energy policy on both the efficiency and renewable energy fronts. Gary played an instrumental role in engineering the success of Senate Bill 145 during the 2019 legislative session. Thanks to his coalition leadership and strategic insights, the bill passed with strong bipartisan support. Additionally, as an active member of the Parties Working Collaboratively, the working group examining Arkansas public utilities’ energy efficiency programs, Gary consistently has advocated for stronger and fairer valuation for energy efficiency and pushed for additional savings. Today’s Power, Inc. was honored with the Advanced Energy Business Innovation award , which recognizes a member company for courage, savvy

Senator Dave Wallace Ron Bell Advanced Energy Leadership Award

Senator Wallace served as the lead sponsor of Senate Bill 145 (now Act 464), and secured its wide bipartisan support in this year’s legislative session.