Lifetime Achievement Award
The Lifetime Achievement award recognizes an individual who has retired or announced their retirement during the year of the event who has at least 20 years of experience advancing clean energy, is seen as a leader in their community, and who has had a significant positive impact on the State of California and frontline communities.
Gene Rodrigues,
Assistant Secretary of Energy, U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Electricity
Manhattan Beach, California
Gene Rodrigues, from Southern California, has spent decades advancing clean energy across the country. His passion for ensuring access to affordable clean energy for all Americans ignited when he started working at Southern California Edison (SCE), one of the nation’s largest electric utilities. That role set the stage for a career devoted to service through energy, including more than 20 years at SCE as an attorney and eventually an executive. After SCE, Gene served as vice president at ICF until he retired, helping utilities evolve their energy efficiency programs and helping ensure that underserved utility customers benefit from the transition to clean energy. In 2022, Gene came out of retirement after being appointed by President Joe Biden to serve as assistant secretary of energy for the U.S. Department of Energy’s (U.S. DOE’s) Office of Electricity. With him at the helm, the office has made the power grid more reliable, resilient, and affordable. Gene’s commitment to service is not surprising given his family roots. His father, a Portuguese American, served in the military and, while stationed in Japan, met Gene’s mother, who is of full Japanese descent. Gene’s multicultural roots instilled in him an appreciation for diversity and expanding opportunities for all people, motivating him to represent the DOE on the federal interagency working group for the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders.
Youth Game-Changer Award
The Youth Game-Changer award recognizes an individual who is 18 years of age or younger, or a leader of an organization focused on working with youth who is helping to advance California toward a clean energy future by combating climate change through innovative methods and inspiring the new generation of energy experts, entrepreneurs, and leaders to change the game.
Julia Zeitlin
Founder, Palo Alto Student Climate Coalition (PASCC)
Palo Alto, California
Julia Zeitlin, an 18-year-old climate activist attending Stanford University, advocates for bold climate action in Palo Alto and inspires others to fight for environmental justice. At 13, after witnessing some of California's most devastating fires, she founded the Palo Alto Chapter of the Sunrise Movement to raise awareness about the impacts of climate change. Julia also cofounded the Palo Alto Student Climate Coalition, where she serves as chief advisor, advocating for local climate solutions and equipping a new generation of youth activists to lead. The organization regularly presents at city council meetings to secure bold electrification programs. In 2023, Julia organized the Bay Area Heat Mapping Campaign, working with local governments to implement cooling solutions for heat-affected areas. She also recently interned with the Palo Alto Public Works Department in the Office of Sustainability and participates in Palo Alto's Climate Adaptation and Protection Working Group. Julia credits her family for raising her with a deep respect for the environment.
Tribal Champion Award
The Tribal Champion award recognizes an individual who is a tribal member, tribal employee, or a person that works for a tribe who has advanced a clean energy future by combating climate change through innovative projects, long term service, dedication to implementing technology, or has served in a key coordinating role that has led to more equitable outcomes and/or transformational change for tribes or tribal communities in California.
Elizabeth "Liz" Perez
CEO and President of GC Green, Native American Energy Services, and Veteran Energy Services Company
North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians, California
Elizabeth “Liz” Perez, a proud member of the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians, is a trailblazer in clean energy, recognized as the only Native American woman veteran to own and lead a licensed renewable energy development company. Liz, who is also of Pima Indian and Latino descent, followed her family's tradition of military service, becoming a combat Navy veteran. During her time in the military, she realized the nation’s need for sustainability and energy independence. After transitioning to civilian life, she combined her skills and passion for green technology to found three firms: GC Green, Native American Energy Services, and the Veteran Energy Services Company. Liz continues to balance her role as an industry leader with her commitment to serving tribes, veterans, and other underserved communities. Over the past 15 years, Liz has built a thriving enterprise focused on energy security for rural and marginalized communities, including more than 50 tribal nations and 4,500 nontribal customers across California. Liz has also served her country as a U.S. delegate to Israel and Japan to help advance clean energy and sustainability.
Clean Energy Champions Awards
Clean Energy Champion awards recognizes individuals who are combating climate change and contributing to California’s clean energy future through their bold moves, leadership, and innovative ideas, while helping benefit communities in California through more equitable outcomes.
Dr. Fan Dai
Director, University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley), California-China Climate Institute and Senior Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School
Berkeley, California
Dr. Fan Dai is the director of the California-China Climate Institute at UC Berkeley. Dr. Dai, who was born and raised in China, started her career supporting China’s global forestry initiative. This experience sparked her interest in international climate negotiations and initiated her career journey to advancing California’s international climate partnerships. Since taking up her role at UC Berkeley in 2019, she has driven innovative research and collaboration between California and China on climate policy, securing more than $15 million in funding for various climate research projects. These initiatives focus on U.S.-China climate cooperation and subnational climate action, supporting projects at the Center for Global Climate Policy and Sustainability at the Goldman School of Public Policy and advancing climate adaptation and mitigation efforts at a global scale. Due to her expertise and diplomacy, she has served as senior climate advisor to Governor Jerry Brown and as senior climate change advisor at the California Environmental Protection Agency.
Christine Viterelli-Busby
Grants Manager, City of Arvin
Arvin, California
The Central Valley’s Christine Viterelli-Busby has served as a grant writer for the City of Arvin since October 2016, securing millions of dollars in funding to help transform her local community. Christine is a grant-writing dynamo who has used her skills to help her small rural city become a national leader in clean transportation. One of her proudest accomplishments came in 2018 when she secured more than $2 million in federal funding to enable Arvin to convert three diesel buses to electric. That milestone set the foundation for Arvin's goal of transitioning to an all-electric bus fleet by 2025. Christine’s work has also enabled Arvin to build microgrids and install public charging stations, including at the local Veterans Hall and park-and-ride sites. Arvin is even able to offer free charging to employees and has transitioned its workplace vehicles to all-electric and plug-in hybrids. Her tenacious spirit and community-driven approach have enabled Christine to help Arvin secure almost $50 million to invest in clean energy.
Patricia Watts
President and CEO, Faith Com Inc. dba FCI Management (FCI)
Cerritos, California
Patricia Watts, based in Cerritos, is the president and CEO of FCI, an energy and water consulting firm she founded in 1998 after a 24-year career at Southern California Edison. In 2001, during California’s energy crisis, she ramped up FCI's efforts to develop and implement energy-efficient solutions. Her company began working with utilities and businesses to reduce energy consumption, a focus that has since become a cornerstone of FCI's mission and growth. FCI has grown into a nationally recognized, certified woman-owned, minority-owned corporation with offices across California and the country. As a business leader dedicated to advancing equity and positively influencing the energy industry, Patricia serves on various community boards, the California African American Chamber of Commerce, the California Public Utility Commission’s Low-Income Oversight Board, and the California Efficiency and Demand Management Council.