The Research Triangle Cleantech Cluster created the annual Cleantech Innovation Awards to recognize cleantech initiatives, projects, and innovations from companies, organizations, and government agencies that have contributed to the growing cleantech ecosystem in North Carolina. 

The awards celebrated a range of creative solutions from water technologies to renewables and new transportation models, among others. The awards were judged by leaders from the cleantech industry and public sectors. All award nominees are featured on the event webpage and were invited to attend the Cleantech Innovation Award Ceremony.

The 2024 Cleantech Innovation Award Ceremony was held on Wednesday, November 13 at SAS Institute in Cary, N.C.

Individuals and Small Teams  

Cleantech Champion

Recognizes an individual who exemplifies a deep commitment to advancing the cleantech industry in their local community, the Research Triangle region, or statewide.

Achievements may include demonstrated dedication to cleantech innovation or adoption, business expansion or relocation, development of high-impact technology, or spearheading regional/cross-sectoral collaboration to drive innovation. 

Cleantech Entrepreneurship Award

Recognizes an individual or team that has demonstrated innovation through the development of new technology or advancing existing technology that has the potential to disrupt traditional industries, create a cleaner planet, and improve the quality of life for people here in North Carolina or around the world. 

Cleantech Research Innovation

Recognizes an individual or team from industry or within an institution of higher education that is pursuing a research-based solution to a pressing cleantech challenge.

Examples include the creation of a new technology, working toward commercialization of a research-based cleantech innovation, or spearheading a new collaboration between research and industry.  

Organizations

Cleantech Talent Development

Recognizes an organization or initiative that has made a significant contribution to developing talent, providing professional development, or fostering employment opportunities that support the cleantech industry in the region or state.

Examples may include a corporate apprenticeship or internship program, a community college or university certificate in clean technologies, or a K-12 curriculum or outreach program.

Equity in Cleantech

Recognizes an organization or initiative that has demonstrated a strong commitment to equity in the implementation of a cleantech project.

Examples may include deployments that focus specifically on the equitable availability of cleantech solutions, initiatives that address existing inequalities through new cleantech investments, and stakeholder engagement processes specifically designed to promote inclusion in planning or implementation processes. 

Diversity in Cleantech

Recognizes an organization or initiative that has made significant contributions to ensuring the cleantech workforce reflects the people it serves, pursues organizational approaches that are inclusive of a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives, or actively supports employees’ sense of belonging within the organization.

Examples may include targeted efforts to help underrepresented groups explore cleantech career opportunities, corporate programs designed to recruit and support underrepresented employees, or inclusion-focused mentoring or networking initiatives. 

Cleantech Impact Awards (multiple categories)  

Recognize organizations that have made significant impacts through the application of cleantech to create positive impacts for the environment, economy, and residents. 

Cleantech Impact: Energy

Recognizes an energy project that applies cleantech to create positive impacts for the environment, economy, and residents.

Examples may include innovations to existing grid infrastructure to enhance resiliency, renewable energy installations, microgrid deployments, or innovative energy efficiency programs.

Cleantech Impact: Transportation

Recognizes a transportation or mobility project that uses innovative cleantech solutions to create positive impacts for the environment, economy, and residents.

Examples may include successful fleet electrification projects, EV charging deployments, microtransit initiatives, or efforts to enhance the energy efficiency of mass transit systems. 

Cleantech Impact: Water

Recognizes a water, wastewater, or stormwater project that applies cleantech solutions to create positive impacts for the environment, economy, and residents.

Examples may include deployment of smart metering solutions at scale, application of data to identify opportunities for water conservation, or innovative technology deployments that improve water quality and the environment. 

Cleantech Impact: Local Government

Recognizes a local government that has effectively leveraged resources and partnerships to complete an innovative project or initiative deploying cleantech solutions to create positive impacts for the environment, economy, and residents.

Examples may include smart city technology deployments, collaborative stormwater management agreements, or cross-departmental teams addressing climate change or cleantech adoption or deployment.

Cleantech Impact: Economic Development

* Awarded at RTCC discretion, not part of official nomination and judging process  

Recognizes a cleantech organization that has accelerated economic growth in the region or state.

Examples may include a cleantech business that has relocated to the region or state, an organization that has made a significant impact through the application of clean technologies, or an organization that has enabled cleantech economic growth. 

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Kristen Koch

Platinum Sponsor Remarks

VP, Talent & Learning Leader, Americas, Hitachi Energy

Kristen is responsible for Talent Acquisition, Talent Management, Learning & Development, Employer Branding, and DEI for Hitachi Energy in North and South America. 

Kristen has over 18 years of experience in HR and has been with the company for almost 15 years, including starting with the company as an intern. Prior to her current role, she worked as a senior HR business partner and held regional HR leadership roles.  She also spent three years as a Talent Manager in Switzerland.

Kristen holds a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Notre Dame.  She has an executive education certificate from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.  Kristen is also on the board executive committee for Make-A-Wish Eastern North Carolina.  She has a passion for people, leadership and travel, having visited all 50 states and 54 countries.  She lives with her husband and dog Nellie in Raleigh, North Carolina.

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Kendal Bowman

Fireside Chat

State President – North Carolina, Duke Energy

Kendal Bowman is president of Duke Energy’s utility operations in North Carolina, which serves approximately 3.7 million electric retail customers and 786,000 natural gas customers. She is responsible for the performance of Duke Energy’s regulated utilities in North Carolina, along with leading state and local regulatory and government relations, and community affairs. She also manages continued efforts to engage and work with customers and stakeholders across many topics, including North Carolina’s clean energy transition.

Before assuming her current position in January 2023, Bowman served as Duke Energy’s vice president of regulatory affairs and policy for North Carolina. In this role, she managed the company’s presence in all North Carolina regulatory matters before the North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC). She provided leadership and direction in the development and implementation of public policy that is in the best interest of the customers and communities served by Duke Energy. Bowman worked closely with policymakers and other stakeholders to find working, sustainable solutions to energy policy needs. In addition, she served as the company’s regulatory policy witness in proceedings before the NCUC and other regulatory bodies.

Prior to that, Bowman served as deputy general counsel for Duke Energy, managing all legal state regulatory functions for North Carolina. Earlier, she was associate general counsel for Progress Energy, supporting all state regulatory functions for North Carolina and South Carolina. She also spent a decade leading the federal regulatory affairs group and was responsible for all Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), legal, policy and compliance matters for Progress Energy Carolinas and Progress Energy Florida. Bowman has been with the company since 1999. Prior to joining Progress Energy, Bowman was an attorney for Florida Power Corporation.

Bowman serves on the boards of directors of the NC Chamber and E4 Carolinas. She also serves on the national advisory board and the Policy & Program Committee of the Institute for Emerging Issues at NC State University. Bowman is an alum of Leadership North Carolina class of 2015 and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Kenan-Flagler Business School Leadership Development Program. 

Bowman earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University of Virginia and a Juris Doctor degree from Stetson University College of Law. She is admitted to the state bars in North Carolina and Florida. Bowman and her husband, Bret, have a daughter and twin sons.

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Jason Norman

Lightning Talk

Vice President
RTI Innovation Advisors

Jason Norman is the business head of RTI’s Innovation Advisors, where he leads innovation strategies that have successfully commercialized products for a wide range of clients, including Fortune 100 companies. His team’s user-centered approach, paired with expertise in innovation foresight, technology insights, and commercialization methodologies, has been key to their ongoing success.

Jason has a proven track record in developing and commercializing environmental and process technologies in the energy, chemicals and oil and gas sectors. He has held senior R&D leadership positions at BOC and Linde Gases and served as CTO of a climate tech startup specializing in nanocatalysts. His experience in corporate strategy and business development has provided him with a deep understanding of the challenges involved in bringing new products and services from concept to market.

Jason holds a PhD and a Masters in Fuel and Energy Engineering from Leeds University, UK.

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Dr. Deb Wojcik

Executive Director, Research Triangle Cleantech Cluster

Deb Wojcik joined the Research Triangle Cleantech Cluster as Executive Director in August 2021. She brings over 20 years of experience in program leadership and development, stakeholder engagement and network building, career and professional development, and environmental education and communication.

Deb has worked extensively to build strong relationships across sectors and effectively address complex challenges through creativity and collaboration. She has developed and managed innovative programs at the Pratt School of Engineering and the Nicholas School of the Environment of Duke University, Stanford University, University of Florida, North Carolina Coastal Federation, North Carolina National Estuarine Research Reserve, and with technology companies.

Deb earned a PhD from the University of Florida focused on adaptive management of resources and stakeholder education and engagement. Her doctoral research focused on using a network approach to understand communication flows and decision making around water and wildlife resources in the Okavango Delta of Botswana. She was a postdoctoral scholar at Stanford University and holds Master of Environmental Management, Master of Arts in Teaching, and Bachelor of Science degrees from Duke University.

Platinum Sponsor

Recognizes an individual who exemplifies a deep commitment to advancing the cleantech industry in their local community, the Research Triangle region, or statewide.

The 2024 Cleantech Champion was announced at the Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, November 13.

Recognizes an individual or team that has demonstrated innovation through the development of new technology or advancing existing technology that has the potential to disrupt traditional industries, create a cleaner planet, and improve the quality of life for people here in North Carolina or around the world. 

Note: Finalists were not announced for this category. The winner was announced at the Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, November 13, 2024.

Nominees

Recognizes an individual or team from industry or within an institution of higher education that is pursuing a research-based solution to a pressing cleantech challenge. 

Finalists

Nominees

Recognizes an organization or initiative that has made a significant contribution to developing talent, providing professional development, or fostering employment opportunities that support the cleantech industry in the region or state.

Finalists

Nominees

Recognizes an organization or initiative that has demonstrated a strong commitment to equity in the implementation of a cleantech project.

Finalists

Nominees

Recognizes an organization or initiative that has made significant contributions to ensuring the cleantech workforce reflects the people it serves, pursues organizational approaches that are inclusive of a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives, or actively supports employees’ sense of belonging within the organization.

Finalists

Recognizes an energy project that applies cleantech to create positive impacts for the environment, economy, and residents.

Finalists

Nominees

Recognizes a transportation or mobility project that uses innovative cleantech solutions to create positive impacts for the environment, economy, and residents.

Finalists

Nominees

Recognizes a water, wastewater, or stormwater project that applies cleantech solutions to create positive impacts for the environment, economy, and residents.

Finalists

Recognizes a local government that has effectively leveraged resources and partnerships to complete an innovative project or initiative deploying cleantech solutions to create positive impacts for the environment, economy, and residents.

Finalists

Nominees

Recognizes a cleantech organization that has accelerated economic growth in the region or state.

The 2024 Cleantech Impact: Economic Development winner was announced at the Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, November 13, 2024.