By Media Office Staff
The California Energy Commission's 2024 Clean Energy Hall of Fame Awards celebrate leaders whose commitment to clean energy has transformed California and beyond. From a youth activist to business executives to seasoned officials, this year’s honorees' local actions are making a global impact and epitomizing the spirit of resilience and innovation, charting a course toward a sustainable future.
Their outstanding achievements will be honored at a December 5 ceremony at the California Natural Resources Agency building located at 715 P Street in Sacramento. The awards ceremony will be held from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m., followed by a celebratory reception from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. There will be food, music, photos, and opportunities for engagement.
The awards, which are in its fifth year, aim to motivate and inspire all of us to continue contributing to a 100 percent clean energy future by 2045. Join us in person or online: https://www.energy.ca.gov/about/clean-energy-hall-fame-awards
This year’s recipients are:
Lifetime Achievement Award: Gene Rodrigues
Gene Rodrigues, assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Electricity, has been honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Gene, who hails from Southern California, has dedicated decades to advancing clean energy nationwide. His commitment to making affordable clean energy accessible for all Americans took root at Southern California Edison (SCE), one of the largest electric utilities in the U.S. This early role sparked a career focused on public service through energy, with Gene spending over 20 years at SCE, first as an attorney and later as an executive. After his SCE tenure, he continued to champion energy access as vice president at ICF, where he helped utilities enhance their energy efficiency programs to better support underserved communities. Though he retired, Gene returned to public service in 2022 when President Joe Biden appointed him to his current role. Under his leadership, the office has made strides toward a more reliable, resilient, and affordable power grid. Gene’s dedication to public service is rooted in his multicultural background; his father, a Portuguese American military serviceman, met his Japanese mother while stationed in Japan. This heritage fostered in Gene a strong respect for diversity and opportunity, inspiring him to serve on the federal interagency group for the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders.
Youth Game-Changer Award: Julia Zeitlin
Eighteen-year-old climate activist Julia Zeitlin, now a student at Stanford University, champions strong climate action in Palo Alto, inspiring her peers to join the fight for environmental justice. At just 13, after witnessing some of California's most severe wildfires, Julia founded the Palo Alto chapter of the Sunrise Movement to raise awareness of climate change's effects. She later co-founded the Palo Alto Student Climate Coalition, where she serves as chief advisor, advocating for local climate initiatives and guiding a new wave of young activists. The coalition regularly engages with the city council to push for ambitious electrification policies. In 2023, Julia led the Bay Area Heat Mapping Campaign, partnering with local authorities to introduce cooling solutions in high-heat areas. Her recent internship with Palo Alto's Public Works Department in the Office of Sustainability, along with her involvement in the city’s Climate Adaptation and Protection Working Group, further highlights her dedication. Julia attributes her environmental values to her family's influence.
Tribal Champion Award: Elizabeth Liz Perez
Elizabeth “Liz” Perez, a proud member of the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians, stands as a champion in the clean energy sector and is recognized as the only Native American woman veteran to own and lead a licensed renewable energy development company. Of Pima Indian and Latino heritage, Liz followed her family’s path of military service, becoming a U.S. Navy combat veteran. Her time in the military underscored the nation’s critical need for sustainability and energy independence. After her service, she channeled her expertise and passion for green technology into founding three companies: GC Green, Native American Energy Services, and the Veteran Energy Services Company. Liz skillfully balances her industry leadership with her commitment to supporting tribes, veterans, and underserved communities. Over the last 15 years, she has built a successful enterprise focused on energy security for rural and marginalized areas, benefiting over 50 tribal nations and 4,500 non-tribal clients across California. Liz has also represented the U.S. as a delegate to Israel and Japan to promote clean energy and sustainability initiatives.
Clean Energy Champions: Dr. Fan Dai, Christine Viterelli-Busby, and Patricia Watts
Dr. Fan Dai is being recognized for her work as director of the California-China Climate Institute at UC Berkeley. Her initiatives bridge California and China’s climate efforts, with over $15 million raised to fund joint research projects. Due to her expertise and diplomacy, she served as a senior climate advisor to Governor Jerry Brown and as a senior climate change advisor at the California Environmental Protection Agency. As a senior climate advisor to state leaders, crafted policies that have led to international climate cooperation. She is also a senior fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School.
Christine Viterelli-Busby, is a grants manager in Arvin who secured nearly $50 million to transform her community’s infrastructure. Her work includes electrifying Arvin’s bus fleet and establishing microgrids for energy resilience. Christine’s grant writing skills have also enabled Arvin to install public charging stations, including at the local Veterans Hall and park-and-ride sites. Through her tireless efforts, Arvin has become a model for clean energy in rural America.
Patricia Watts, CEO of FCI in Cerritos, founded her energy consultancy in 1998 during California’s energy crisis. Patricia has since expanded FCI into a nationally recognized firm, helping utilities reduce energy demand and supporting minority-owned business initiatives.
She serves on numerous boards, as well as 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, championing equity and sustainability in the energy sector as a large part of her work as a Clean Energy Champion.
These awardees embody the bold leadership California’s clean energy future demands. Their contributions stand as testaments to the power of dedication, innovation, and community impact in the pursuit of a greener tomorrow.
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