World Wind Energy Award 2023 for Jay Inslee, Governor of Washington State
on the occasion of 21st World Wind Energy Conference in Hobart
Hobart/Bonn, 8 November 2023 (WWEA) – WWEA has a tradition of honouring individuals at the annual WWECs who have made an outstanding contribution to the promotion of wind power and renewable energy. On the occasion of WWEC2023, the WWEA Board has decided to award the 2023 World Wind Energy Award to Mr Jay Robert Inslee, Governor of the State of Washington.
Jay Inslee began his political career more than 30 years ago, first in the Washington State legislature. As a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1993 to 1995 and again from 1999 to 2012, he has consistently championed renewable energy. He co-sponsored groundbreaking legislative initiatives that, although not fully implemented, changed the political debate in the US. His policy initiatives were embedded in an international context and were widely recognised beyond the US. As Governor of Washington State since 2013, he has also put renewable energy and climate change at the centre of his campaigns.
His book, Apollo’s Fire, is in the best tradition of Jimmy Carter’s groundbreaking work more than 20 years earlier, explaining why a renewable energy future is not only imperative for the environment, but also contributes to national independence, self-determination and prosperity.
WWEA President Peter Rae awarding Governor Jay Inslee at WWEC2023 – foto by Heinrich Bartelt
As the Democratic Party’s presidential candidate in 2019/2020, Jay Inslee has once again put climate change and renewable energy at the centre of his campaign. Inslee announced his presidential candidacy in March 2019, announcing that fighting climate change would be the focus of his campaign – and calling for a public debate among all candidates focused on climate change. With this strong stance, he inspired the successful Democratic candidate and current US President Joe Biden, who has implemented one of the world’s most ambitious renewable energy support programmes.
Jay Inslee has always put the importance of a renewable energy future and effective climate change legislation at the centre of his political campaigns. In doing so, he has changed public perception and attitudes and paved the way for more ambitious policies.
In recognition of his indispensable contributions to the development of renewable energy and effective climate action, the award is presented to Governor Jay Inslee.
WWEA President Peter Rae handed over the 2023 World Wind Energy Award to Governor Jay Inslee.
All Winners of the World Wind Energy Award:
- 2023: Jay Robert Inslee, Governor of Washington State
- 2022: the entrepreneur Heinrich Bartelt and the politician Hans-Josef Fell, Germany
- 2019: the renewable energy promotors Dr. Andriy Konechenkov and Galyna Shmidt, Ukraine
- 2018: Air Marshal Raja Shahid Hamid (Retd.), Pakistan
- 2017: the journalist Dr. Franz Alt, Germany
- 2016: 195 Parties of the Paris Agreement under the UNFCCC, Honorary Award to Dr. Tetsu Iida and Prof. Izumi Ushiyama, Japan
- 2015: the Mali Folkecenter Nyetaa under the leadership of Dr. Ibrahim Togola
- 2014: the National Energy Administration of China and Dr. Anil Kane, India
- 2013: the French manufacturer of medium-sized wind turbines Vergnet Eolien
- 2012: the initiators of the Hepburn Wind Farm, Australia’s first community wind farm
- 2011: the Egyptian wind turbine manufacturer Sewedy Wind Energy Group SWEG under the leadership of Ahmed El Sewedy
- 2010: the Founding Member States of the International Renewable Energy Agency IRENA
- 2009: the Hon. George Smitherman, Deputy Premier and Minister of Energy and Infrastructure of Ontario
- 2008 jointly to: Ms Jane Kruse, and Dr. Preben Maegaard, Denmark, Paul Gipe, USA
- 2007 jointly to: the Hon. Ms Dilma Vana Rousseff, later President of Brazil, former Chief of Staff Minister of Brazil and former Minister for Mines and Energy, Ms Laura Porto, Director of the Department of Renewable Energy of the Ministry of Mines and Energ, Mr Valter Luiz Cardeal, Director of Engineering and interim President of Eletrobrás, Dr. Sebastião Florentino da Silva, Coordinator of the Proinfa Programme at Eletrobrás
- 2006: the Chinese wind turbine manufacturer Goldwind under the leadership of Mr Wu Gang
- 2005 jointly to: Hon. Vilas Muttemwar, Indian Minister for Non-Conventional Energy Sources, and Dr. Pramod Deo, Chairman of the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission
- 2004 jointly to: the German Minister for the Environment, Jürgen Trittin, and the German Parliamentarian Dr. Hermann Scheer
- 2003: the Indian wind turbine manufacturer Suzlon under the leadership of Mr Tulsi Tanti
- 2002: Prof. Dr. Amin Mobarak, Chairman of the Industry and Energy Committee of the Egyptian Parliament