[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Page 18808]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        RECOGNIZING MARY POWELL

  Mr. LEAHY. Madam President, Vermont is a national leader in 
sustainable energy. Green Mountain Power, with its CEO and President 
Mary Powell at the helm, is the perfect example of the progress our 
State has made and should serve as an example for the rest of the 
Nation.
  Mary was recently named the 2014 Power-Gen Woman of the Year. Mary is 
a leader and trailblazer in the power industry. She took the reins of 
Green Mountain Power, GMP, in 2008 and has transformed it into 
Vermont's ``energy company of the future.'' Mary is truly committed to 
the idea that energy can spur socioeconomic change for Vermonters and 
strives to help people save money and move toward more renewable 
sources. Under her leadership, GMP has launched successful initiatives 
to improve the company's quality of service, through providing low 
carbon, low cost, and reliable power to Vermonters.
  Recently, Mary led Green Mountain Power in becoming the first utility 
in the world to receive B corporation certification. B corporations use 
the power of business to solve social and environmental problems. Mary 
wants Green Mountain Power to not only be the best utility in the world 
but the best for the world.
  Mary is among the very few women who have achieved this level of 
success in the utility industry. I am grateful for the work she has 
done for the State of Vermont. She is redefining success in the energy 
industry, and I congratulate her on receiving the 2014 Power-Gen Woman 
of the Year Award.
  I ask unanimous consent that the Burlington Free Press article ``Mary 
Powell Named Woman of the Year'' recognizing Mary for her achievements 
be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

            [From the Burlington Free Press, Dec. 10, 2014]

                  Mary Powell Named Woman of the Year


    Power generation industry group cites her advancements, outreach

       The leader of Vermont's largest utility was named woman of 
     the year at her industry's largest trade show this week.
       Mary Powell, president and CEO of Green Mountain Power in 
     Colchester, was named Power-Gen 2014 Woman of the Year. 
     Powell was selected because of how she has advanced the power 
     generation industry and for her community involvement.
       Powell received the award at the 2014 Power-Gen Woman of 
     the Year Awards Dinner Monday in Florida as part of Power-Gen 
     International, the largest trade show in the world for the 
     power generation industry. She is scheduled to give the 
     keynote address today during the Women in Power Luncheon.
       In a statement, Powell called the award an ``incredible 
     honor.''
       ``Energy can be transformational in moving customers and 
     society to a more secure and environmentally sound future, 
     and we are determined to lead the way,'' Powell said. ``GMP 
     is partnering with customers to accelerate the pace of change 
     as Vermont's energy company of the future.''
       Jennifer Runyon, chairwoman of the Women in Power 
     Committee, called Powell a ``trailblazer.''
       ``We hope that our award will inspire young women to not 
     only consider careers in the power industry, but also show 
     them that dedication and hard work can lead to brilliant 
     results,'' Runyon said in a statement.
       David Crane, president and CEO of NRG, a large utility with 
     headquarters in Princeton, New Jersey, and Houston, said in a 
     statement that Powell ``starts with the heretical notion of 
     giving the modern-day energy consumer what they want--which 
     is affordable, convenient, clean and storm-resistant energy--
     and then uses her native intelligence, charm and drive to 
     make sure it happens.''
       GMP said it is collaborating with NRG to make Vermont a 
     ``leader'' in sustainable energy. Beginning early next year, 
     the partnership will bring ``innovative, cost-effective clean 
     energy products and services to Vermont,'' according to a 
     statement from the Vermont utility.

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