Beth Sachs honored for 40 years of leadership in energy efficiency

Vermont Energy Investment Corporation (VEIC) co-founder Beth Sachs has received a lifetime achievement award honoring 40 years of pioneering leadership in the energy efficiency field. The 2016 Leadership & Achievement Award was given by Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP), a nonprofit whose mission is to serve the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic to accelerate energy efficiency as an essential part of solutions that enable a sustainable regional energy system.

“We recognize Beth Sachs with honor and appreciation for being an influential champion, leader, and innovator,” said Sue Coakley, NEEP Executive Director. “For more than 40 years, Beth Sachs has made it her life’s work to unleash the power of energy efficiency as an equitable, affordable, and sustainable energy resource.”

Sachs co-founded VEIC in 1986 with partner Blair Hamilton and served as its Executive Director for 22 years. VEIC is a mission-driven nonprofit working globally to reduce the economic and environmental impact of energy production and use for all through energy efficiency and renewable energy. VEIC employs 340 people in its Vermont headquarters and offices in Ohio and the District of Columbia.

“The accomplishments spoken of here today are the work of thousands of people,” said Sachs in accepting the award. “We need to work together – with communities in struggle for civil rights and economic justice – to fight for environmental justice. Only together can we hold onto our planet’s ability to sustain life.”

Beth Sachs was recognized at a June 13th award ceremony, at NEEP’s 2016 summit of industry leaders, as one of four honored pioneers in the energy field. Also receiving honors were: Dr. Kathleen Hogan, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency, the U.S. Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy; Gina McCarthy, Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; and Meredith Hatfield, Director of the New Hampshire Office of Energy and Planning.