2024 CCBJ Business Achievement Awards

About the 2024 CCBJ Business Achievement Awards: In November-December 2024, Climate Change Business Journal solicited nominations for the CCBJ Business Achievement Awards. Nominations were accepted in 200-word essays in specific categories. Final awards were determined by a committee of CCBJ staff, CCBJ editorial advisory board members and regular contributors. (Disclaimer: Company audits were not conducted to verify information or claims submitted with nominations).

Released in February 2025 in recognition of climate change industry achievements in 2024. (Note: Additions or modifications may be made to this list. Award certificates will be sent to recipients. In-person awards will be presented to those in attendance at the EBJ Awards banquet at Environmental Industry Summit XXIII on April 3, 2025 in San Diego.)

 

ADVANCING BEST PRACTICES: NATURE-BASED SOLUTION

AECOM

Natural and Nature-Based Solution Job Aids were produced to address damages in Puerto Rico from Hurricane María. Developed by FEMA in collaboration with AECOM and not-for-profit organizations, these resources empower local communities, planners, and engineers to integrate nature-based solutions into infrastructure and hazard mitigation projects. Addressing rising sea levels, coastal erosion, and intensified storm events exacerbated by climate change, the three job aids — shoreline and dune stabilization and restoration, bank stabilization, and stormwater management — offer practical guidance for designing projects that harness natural systems such as wetlands, mangroves, and vegetative buffers. These solutions reduce risks, improve water quality, and enhance biodiversity while promoting sustainability. Tailored to Puerto Rico’s unique geography and ecological challenges, the job aids bridge the gap between science and actionable strategies. By showcasing cost-effective alternatives to traditional engineering approaches, the documents catalyze resilient, adaptive communities while preserving natural ecosystems. Beyond immediate applications, these resources set a national precedent for embedding nature-based solutions in climate adaptation strategies. They are more than a project — they represent a legacy of resilience, equipping communities to thrive amid climate challenges.

 

ADVANCING BEST PRACTICES: COASTAL RESILIENCE

APTIM

In 2024, APTIM provided cutting-edge guidance and grants management support to Florida municipalities to reduce physical risks associated with climate change (e.g., hurricanes, intense rainfall, storm surge, compound flooding, and sea level rise). The firm’s coastal resilience experts worked with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to update the Florida Adaptation Planning Guidebook by incorporating the most recent and best available information, advanced research methods, and lessons learned from practitioners. With every $1 invested in hazard mitigation efforts yielding up to $11 in societal savings through federal mitigation grants (according to the National Institute of Building Sciences), the tools provided by APTIM in this guidebook have the potential to deliver significant, scalable cost savings for Florida communities. As part of this effort, the project engaged more than 300 stakeholders through virtual workshops and interviews and iterative feedback processes. From there, the team developed a matrix of 30 metrics-driven, resilient adaptation strategies categorized by relative cost. To further support communities with funding, the guidebook presents 51 funding stream resources (e.g., FEMA-BRIC, HMGP, USACE, and HUD) to reduce costs of implementation of resilience strategies.

 

ADVANCING BEST PRACTICES: DROUGHT RESPONSE PLANNING

City of Guelph

The City of Guelph is one of the largest cities in Canada, relying almost exclusively on groundwater to meet water demands. Groundwater can be slow to replenish and with population growth pressures fueled by the city’s designation as a key growth area, the City required a long-term plan to manage the impacts of drought. Working with a team led by AECOM, the City’s goal was a plan to minimize economic and ecological losses while meeting the requirements of its customers and maintaining human health. The Drought Response Operational Plan identifies thresholds for increasing levels of drought severity and actions for the City to take at each level. The City’s extensive groundwater monitoring network and decades of data provided insight into how the system responds to average, dry and wet conditions. Statistical analysis was completed to established groundwater trigger levels that reflect the health of the resource. The plan incorporates the City’s groundwater modeling tool to forecast conditions within the aquifer, based on observed data and historical precipitation patterns. Combined, these tools provide a robust and multi-layered approach to sustainably managing the resource and maintaining essential water distribution to the community.

 

ADVANCING BEST PRACTICES: CLIMATE VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENTS

EA Engineering, Science, and Technology, Inc., PBC

EA is on the leading edge of improving the resilience of remediation sites, including climate vulnerability assessments. The company’s team has developed custom tools to optimize the assessment evaluation process, strategies to lessen risk, and sustainability measures to reduce carbon footprint for individual projects. Growing concerns over the occurrence of stronger and more frequent extreme weather events and the associated increased potential human health or ecological risks from remedy failures has spurred guidance and regulations. EA has provided climate-resilient remediation strategies for more than 20 sites for federal and state government clients. These projects involve coastal and inland locations covering a variety of remedial alternatives under consideration or in-place. For a near-coastal site in Long Island, New York, EA prepared remedial design documents, as well as providing construction-phase services and a stream and lake restoration effort in a residential area to increase remedy resilience utilizing climate projections up to the year 2050. The implemented remedy included removal of nearly 50,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediments, placement of appropriately sized bank stabilization materials (including wetland plantings) to protect against projected sea level rise, possible high flow from storm surge, and stormwater runoff moving seaward.

 

ADVANCING BEST PRACTICES: SUSTAINABLE AIRPORTS

Greater Toronto Airports Authority

The Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) manages and operates Toronto Pearson International Airport, Canada’s largest airport in terms of total passenger traffic and North America’s second largest in terms of international traffic. The GTAA is launching the Pearson Long-term Investments in Facilities and Terminals (LIFT) program aimed at transforming Toronto Pearson into one of the most advanced, sustainable and passenger-friendly airports in the world. Aligning with recently developed environmental master plan goals, the GTAA and AECOM have developed a Sustainable Design and Construction Guideline. This innovative framework incorporates leading sustainable design practices into the LIFT program. The new guidelines include sustainability certification under LEED, Envision, and the Canada Green Building Council Net-Zero Design Standards, while addressing critical areas such as circular design and construction, climate resiliency, sustainable transportation, water management, energy efficiency, carbon emissions and air quality, materials, resources, zero-waste strategies, and construction logistics. By embedding sustainability into every aspect of the program, the LIFT initiative positions Toronto Pearson as a leader in sustainable airport operations. 

 

ADVANCING BEST PRACTICES: HIGHWAY RESILIENCE

Resilient Analytics, A Stanley Consultants company

Resilient Analytics, a Stanley Consultants Company, is recognized for helping to increase the climate resilience of Arizona’s State Route 88, a key recreation access route. SR-88 is susceptible to wash outs due to extreme storms and wildfires. This problem was magnified when the Woodbury Fire burned 124,000 acres in 2019 and made the land more susceptible to erosion. The fire was followed closely by a storm that dumped six inches of rain onto the fire scar. The resulting runoff-induced erosion severely damaged large portions of SR-88, including a rockslide that left a critical section impassable. Arizona Department of Transportation hired Resilient Analytics and Stanley Consultants to determine the feasibility of repairing and re-opening the closed section of SR-88. Resilience was a key consideration with the intent to reduce the likelihood of future damage. Of particular interest was the potential impact of future precipitation events on the drainage and slope stabilization systems. To address this challenge, Resilient Analytics quantified future wildfire and extreme precipitation scenarios over the next 20 years. These projections were used to establish forward-looking design conditions for an in-depth analysis of SR-88, informing resilience strategies to protect the road from anticipated flood and wildfire risks.

ADVANCING BEST PRACTICES: EMISSIONS REDUCTION

Terracon

In 2024, Terracon worked with the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (SRPMIC) to prepare their implementation grant application for EPA’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grant program. EPA awarded SRPMIC $9.8 million to fund the following emissions reduction measures to guide sustainable future development, promote climate resilience, and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 117,000 mtCO2e by 2030 and 677,000 mtCO2e by 2050.

Renewable Energy/Low-carbon Power

• Utilize landfill gas to produce renewable natural gas (RNG) and avoid flaring.
• Fleet vehicle electrification and installation of charging stations.
• Facilitate free home energy assessments for SRPMIC residents.
• Voucher program to exchange gas-powered lawn and garden equipment for electric alternatives.

Carbon Sequestration and Sustainable Development

• Implementation of a land buy-back program to preserve natural spaces and enhance carbon sequestration.
• Large-scale tree planting program to enhance air quality and carbon sequestration.
• Improvements to soil management to implement sustainable agriculture practices.

For each measure, Terracon analyzed the magnitude of emissions reductions, calculated their cost-effectiveness, and developed an action plan to support measure durability. Additionally, Terracon prepared the Technical Appendix, detailing the methodology used to calculate emissions reductions from each measure, providing SRPMIC with a comprehensive and technically sound basis for their application.

 

ADVANCING BEST PRACTICES: PORT RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

WSP

Recognized as the Cruise Capital of the World and the Cargo Gateway of the Americas, PortMiami has set a bold new standard for environmental stewardship with the introduction of five shore power berths allowing cruise ships to connect to the local power grid when in port. This eliminates the need for vessels to run their engines while berthed, significantly reducing air emissions, noise and pollution at the port and for the surrounding community while enhancing the overall environmental performance of port operations. 

The Shore Power project advances best practices in support of climate change adaptation and resilience by bringing the cruise industry and ports together to reduce carbon emissions. The project enhances port and cruise industry climate resilience while contributing to their broader goal of achieving carbon neutrality. Supplying safe, clean electricity to docked cruise ships required installing sophisticated cable management systems to accommodate heavy plugs and outlets at the vessels. WSP served as designer and engineer of record, working with the Florida Power and Light Company and various manufacturers, suppliers and cruise lines throughout the project to establish the largest shore power system on the East Coast.

ADVANCING BEST PRACTICES: LiDAR DATA COLLECTION

Weston Solutions

Weston Solutions, Inc. leveraged innovative LiDAR technology to revolutionize environmental assessments at the Mt. Diablo Mercury Mine, evaluating the potential impacts of historical mining operations on the community and environment. In April 2024, they employed a DJI M350 drone equipped with a LiDAR payload to create a precise 3D model of the 80-acre area, overcoming challenges posed by dense vegetation and complex topography. A near real-time viewer enabled the team to see through the tree cover and identify features, allowing for the collection of geospatial data, seamlessly integrated into ESRI’s ArcGIS Online 3D Scene Viewer. Using this platform, Weston visualized the mine’s topography, identified previously obscured areas of potential contamination, and calculated the volume of potentially impacted soil. The method saved a week of boots-on-the-ground labor, reducing health and safety risks and resulted in an estimated $10,000 labor cost saving.

 

CONSULTING & ENGINEERING: LOW-CARBON ENERGY

Arthian Ltd

Arthian Ltd is a Scottish headquartered, planning, environmental, sustainability, engineering and safety consultancy working in energy, industry, infrastructure and the built environment. Specialist teams of project engineers and scientists support clients via public and private sectors to decarbonize and achieve net zero through design and implementation of low-carbon energy solutions. In 2024 Arthian delivered over 150 ESOS submissions, 175 heat decarbonization projects, and the following support to renewable energy projects: 68 air quality assessments, 103 glint and glare assessments, 69 noise assessment, 64 flood risk assessments and 14 physical climate risk assessments. Arthian combines skills across archaeology, architecture, landscape, planning, air quality, noise, process engineering and safety, ecology, biodiversity, health and safety, geothermal, and civil and structural teams to ensure that all climate and risk factors are taken into account. In December 2024 Mabbett merged with IKM Consulting to create Arthian (Arthur Mabbett & Ian Keith), founders of two highly decorated companies, retaining the brand, history and excellence in delivery.

 

CONSULTING & ENGINEERING: PARTNERSHIPS

CIS, LLC

To address climate change, bold solutions are needed, especially for underserved communities, which are disproportionately impacted by climate disasters. Infrastructure investments can enhance community resilience while addressing historical injustices, building local workforces, and driving economic development. The Fresh Coast Protection Partnership (FCPP), one of the nation’s largest community based public-private partnerships focused on urban green stormwater infrastructure, was launched in 2020 by the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) and CIS. FCPP is a key step toward MMSD’s 2035 goal to capture the first half inch of rain (740 million gallons) with green stormwater infrastructure (GSI). Key features of FCPP include:

• Cost-Effective: At $2.36 per gallon, FCPP offers a lower cost than any other regional program.
• Stormwater Capture: FCPP will deliver nearly 11.5 million gallons of stormwater capture by 2025.
• Private Finance with Zero-Risk: CIS is using a Goldman Sachs credit facility to build all projects, assumes all project risks and ensuring taxpayer investment protection.
• Private Property Utilization: Exceeded the goal (60%) with 93% of GSI installations on private property.
• SWMBE Participation: Achieved 46% participation of small, women/minority based enterprises, surpassing the 25% goal.
• Economic Impact: $61.32 million in community impact from a $29.2 million investment.

 

CONSULTING & ENGINEERING: GREEN BUILDING CERTIFICATION

GE3S Sustainability Corporation

Based in the Middle East, GE3S (Global Energy and Environmental Engineering Services) has established itself as a leading green building certification consultancy over the past decade, partnering with high-profile clients like Adidas, LULU headquarters, and Grundfos factory to meet global sustainability standards. Currently, GE3S is consulting on prestigious projects for Dubai Police, Dubai Expo Valley, and the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi (EAD), as well as diverse clients across Saudi Arabia. These projects showcase expertise in managing sustainability goals under frameworks like LEED, BREEAM, WELL, ESTIDAMA (Abu Dhabi), and Mostadam (KSA). Key achievements include securing LEED certification for 33 Dubai Police buildings, LEED Platinum for 4 EAD buildings, and assisting in LEED certification for 8 FAEC KSA buildings. Additionally, GE3S facilitated a Platinum LEED certificate for AG Metal in 2024, underscoring its leadership in green building consultancy. For Dubai Expo Valley, GE3S is tackling challenges like wildfire risks while ensuring compliance with green building standards. Similarly, work with Dubai Police and EAD focuses on advancing energy efficiency and sustainable operations. With a decade of experience and a commitment to innovation, GE3S continues to drive sustainability in the built environment, delivering impactful solutions for clients worldwide.

 

CONSULTING & ENGINEERING: ECOSYSTEM SERVICES

Jacobs

Jacobs is recognized for Harnessing Nature for Sustainable Embankment Stabilization in Northeast Florida. This innovative project focuses on developing living shoreline and oyster reefs solutions for climate resilience at two critical sites along a major river and estuary, also an economically vital shipping channel, in Northeast Florida. The design project incorporated comprehensive field data collection, materials selection, alternative analysis, present and future condition hydrodynamic modeling, cost estimates, and permit application support. This project is designed to protect the shoreline next to a key roadway and fuel storage facility by implementing Engineering With Nature (EWN) strategies. The living shoreline design included six emergent offshore reefs using limestone and adaptable low-lying sill structures backfilled with sediment and planted with spartina alterniflora to stabilize the sediment. The oyster reef design included four emergent offshore limestone reefs resilient to storms and designed to enhance environmental outcomes. Both designs effectively reduce wave impact during operational and extreme storm conditions, providing significant wave energy mitigation, both today and with future sea level rise. The reefs offer considerable ecological benefits, enhancing and protecting natural coastal habitats. This project not only addresses immediate shoreline protection needs but also provides ecosystem services that align with environmental and socioeconomic goals.

 

PROJECT MERIT: COLORADO RIVER

AECOM 

Covering 250,000 square miles in seven states and Mexico, the Colorado River provides water to 40 million people (including 30 tribes), and 5.5 million acres of agricultural lands. The river supports valuable hydroelectric renewable power, recreation, and rich ecological communities. Climate change is stressing this lifeline through aridification/prolonged drought. To provide resiliency, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is revising operations of major dams. AECOM’s four-year $15-million program is engaging stakeholders and providing environmental compliance for river operations. 

• In July 2024, a supplemental EIS was completed to provide temporary low-flow operations through 2026.
• In December, proposed alternatives for long-term future operations were released and are being evaluated in an EIS. Given the multi-decade planning horizon and significant unknowns around future flows and demands, the analysis uses a first-of-its-kind approach within the Decision Making Under Deep Uncertainty framework.  
• To address invasive fish below Lake Powell, AECOM completed a supplemental EIS in nine months to allow flexible operations of Glen Canyon Dam. 
• Amendment of the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program will provide similar flexibility at Hoover Dam to balance water use with ecological conservation.

 

PROJECT MERIT: DIRECT AIR CAPTURE

Burns & McDonnell

Burns & McDonnell is working with Climeworks to develop Project Cypress, a state-of-the-art direct air capture (DAC) hub in Louisiana. This innovative facility will capture and permanently store carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere, advancing the commercialization of DAC+S technology and reinforcing the United States’ leadership in global carbon reduction efforts. The Burns & McDonnell team is providing front-end engineering and design (FEED) services for the initial capacity of the DAC hub, along with comprehensive environmental studies, permitting, and preparation of the NEPA Environmental Information Volume to ensure compliance with federal environmental standards and regulations. The project is seeking funding under the Department of Energy’s Regional DAC Hubs program, supported by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Climeworks’ cutting-edge DAC technology employs a three-step process: air intake and filtration, thermal release of CO2, and underground storage in partnership with a local geologic storage provider. Upon full development, Project Cypress aims to remove 1 million tonnes of CO2 annually. 

 

PROJECT MERIT: ADAPTATION AND RESILIENCE

Burns & McDonnell

Burns & McDonnell has spearheaded two pivotal projects that significantly enhance climate change adaptation and resilience: 

Enhancing Power Reliability at Mississippi River Crossing: To bolster electrical infrastructure for Citizens Electric Corporation, a member of the Wabash Valley Power Alliance, Burns & McDonnell executed the Limestone Ridge project. This comprehensive initiative included constructing two greenfield substations, upgrading a brownfield substation, and establishing several transmission lines, including a complex crossing over the Mississippi River. A key environmental challenge addressed during the project was preserving critical bat habitats. 

Park Creek Station Wetland Mitigation Bank: In Larimer County, Colorado, Burns & McDonnell completed construction of the 240-acre Park Creek Station Wetland Mitigation Bank. This initiative restores and manages wetland, riparian, and buffer habitats along 1.25 miles of Park Creek, providing wetland mitigation credits to offset impacts in surrounding watersheds. The project enhances biodiversity, improves water quality, and offers refuge for sensitive species, contributing to the region’s ecological resilience. 

 

PROJECT MERIT: THAT DAM GAME!

GEI Consultants, Inc.

GEI Consultants, Inc. is pioneering innovative approaches to address the complex challenges of climate change through That Dam Game! — a collaborative board game developed in partnership with Yuba Water Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. This groundbreaking initiative exemplifies how GEI is reshaping climate resilience education and decision-making. Dam management is increasingly complicated by extreme weather, such as prolonged droughts and intensified floods. Traditional approaches to resource prioritization and stakeholder engagement often fall short in fostering collaboration. Recognizing this gap, GEI designed That Dam Game! to simulate real-world scenarios, encouraging players to make critical decisions about resilience investments, flood safety, and water supply sustainability. By integrating traditional and innovative solutions, the game emphasizes multi-benefit strategies that address both immediate risks and long-term adaptation needs. The game has proven effective in diverse settings, from professional conferences to community outreach, breaking down communication barriers and fostering trust among stakeholders. By transforming technical complexities into accessible, engaging experiences, it enables participants to develop shared understandings and explore cost-effective, sustainable solutions.

 

PROJECT MERIT: ZERO EMISSION VEHICLE OPTIMIZATION

GHD

GHD Zero Emission Vehicle Optimization (GHD ZEVO) is an award-winning fleet decarbonization solution that simplifies data into simple-to-understand insights. Developed in response to the global zero emission vehicle (ZEV) revolution, ZEVO is an optimization-focused solution that transforms vehicle fleet data into various decarbonization timeline scenarios providing the associated financial, environmental, utilities, operational and energy analysis for each scenario. Applicable to all fleet types including commercial, municipal, industrial or public transport vehicles, ZEVO is supporting more than 30 GHD clients around the globe to measure, enhance and act on their ESG goals. ZEVO reduces risks associated with piloting major high-cost fleet decarbonization projects across any region. This is done by providing an understanding of all economic and environmental aspects of a project, from new charging or hydrogen fueling infrastructure to purchasing or converting ZEVs to operations and maintenance costs. By understanding the context through they would have to travel, GHD can conceptualize routes and infrastructure by “working backwards” to simulate hypothetical fleets within a supply chain.

 

PROJECT MERIT: PORT OF CLEVELAND ELECTRIFICATION AND ZERO EMISSIONS MASTER PLAN  

Jacobs

The Port of Cleveland is a vital industrial and commercial hub serving the needs of people and businesses in Northeast Ohio and beyond. Building on a longstanding history of environmental programs, the Port of Cleveland worked with Jacobs to develop a comprehensive electrification master plan to provide a clear roadmap to net zero emissions. The study analyzed the existing fleet’s fuel, energy and emissions to develop a grounded battery electric transition plan and timeline for the Port’s cargo handling, mobile harbor crane, container handler and light duty passenger vehicle fleets. Also analyzed was the feasibility of completely shifting to 100% shore power, also known as cold ironing, of the Port’s cargo and cruise vessel calls. The master plan is now being implemented and is currently in design for the electrification infrastructure and utility medium voltage power upgrades. In 2024, the Port of Cleveland won over $94 million through the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Ports Program grant to fund zero-emission port equipment, charging infrastructure, solar arrays, and a microgrid.

 

PROJECT MERIT: AIRPORT SUSTAINABILITY

Korea Airports Corporation

Korea Airports Corporation is a public corporation that operates 14 airports in South Korea and implements a mid-to-long term plan for 2050 NET-ZERO airports by establishing a goal of GHGs emission in every year. In 2024, to save GHGs emission in airports, we have completed two projects that are creating Korea’s first carbon-free, energy self-sufficient airport and reducing energy of air-conditioning equipment in airports by introducing Cooling Fog system. KAC constructed the solar power generation facilities of 678 kW at the domestic airports, Sacheon Airport in idle sites such as parking lots and the rooftop of the passenger building, with a total investment of 2.8 billion won ($1.9 million). Through this, Sacheon Airport will self-generate and consume 796 MWh of electricity per year, achieving RE100 and saving 365 tons of GHGs each year. In a second project, KAC introduced Cooling Fog System to air-conditioning facilities; cooling tower and outdoor unit of air-conditioner in JEJU international airport, improving energy efficiency and protecting over-heating by spraying low temperature artificial mist of groundwater, improving energy efficiency 20% in JEJU airport and saving 160 tons of GHGs each year.

 

PROJECT MERIT: READINESS AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION INTEGRATION

Marstel-Day, LLC

Marstel-Day has supported the Department of Defense in integrating climate resilience into the Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) program, which develops and funds military-community partnerships to promote compatible land use, conserve habitat, and enhance resilience. REPI policy changes recently enabled resilience solutions, allowing partnerships for off-installation nature-based solutions. In 2024, Marstel-Day supported the integration of resilience solutions into REPI programming across partnerships surrounding eight installations for the Marine Corps and Air Force. Efforts have included development of strategic plans, comprehensive training initiatives, installation workshops, plan development, and project implementation. Marstel-Day’s efforts have created innovative strategies that connect military priorities with community-led climate adaptation efforts to align goals and resources, support broader coalitions, and improve project execution. In Hawaii, we supported invasive species control, wetland restoration, coral reef protection, and watershed management to improve water security and mitigate flooding. In Eastern North Carolina, we helped plan for a living shoreline to reduce flooding and erosion. In Northern Virginia, we supported stream restoration projects to reduce flooding for both the military and community. 

 

PROJECT MERIT: PIONEERING SUSTAINABLE LABORATORY PRACTICES 

Pace Analytical

From reducing chlorinated solvent usage to exploring new technologies and recycling initiatives, Pace® has been at the forefront of driving positive change in laboratory sustainability. The journey into sustainable practices at Pace began with the implementation of low volume solvent technology. This innovation, pioneered by Pace, found this practice could not only significantly reduce the use of chlorinated solvents and reduce emissions, but tended to provide a more reproducible set of analytical results. By improving the process to use a lower volume of the solvent, the company minimizes the use of toxic chemicals like methylene chloride, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and ensures the ongoing safety of employees and the surrounding environment. The implementation of sustainable practices at Pace has not only reduced its environmental impact but has also positively influenced productivity and efficiency. For instance, the reduced volume of solvents leads to a decreased need for storage space to keep samples cold and people to collect samples, impacting the entire process from the field to the laboratory. Upon request, Pace provides sustainability report cards to clients, offering a comprehensive overview of the positive impacts of its sustainable practices.

 

PROJECT MERIT: COMMUNITY CLIMATE MITIGATION

Pelican Renewables & SCS Engineers

Pelican Renewables, LLC is a Stockton, California-based company with a vested interest in improving the life of all Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta residents and preserving the unique ecosystem of the Delta. Formed by local residents, landowners, farmers, and businessmen, Pelican aims to serve both climate mitigation and the local environment and communities. Pelican is cooperating closely with local community organizations and members to pioneer a community-focused project design and operation. Pelican is developing a carbon sequestration hub on the island of Rindge Tract, approximately 7 miles from Stockton. Rindge Tract lies on the deep-water shipping channel connecting the Port of Stockton to the ocean, enabling maritime transport for captured CO2. Pelican owns an ethanol production plant at the port where CO2 is captured and accessible by rail. The U.S. Department of Energy selected Pelican for a $45 million federal award under the CarbonSAFE program. SCS Engineers is providing engineering and scientific analyses, geologic site characterization, and modeling, in support of Pelican’s EPA Class VI permit application that the grant is targeting. 

PROJECT MERIT: WATER RESILIENCE

Rincon Consultants

Rincon has worked closely with the San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District to significantly enhance climate change adaptation and resilience through the development of their Climate Action and Resiliency Plan (CARP).  The CARP addresses climate change challenges such as decreased potable water availability, increased demand, extreme heat, and wildfires. The Valley District is a vital regional agency, serving a population of over 700,000 and providing groundwater storage and supplemental water for 14 retail water agencies. Rincon lead a cross-departmental engagement process, focusing on understanding and addressing the complex, interrelated components of climate change impacts, responses, infrastructure and human systems to develop policies that not only mitigate climate change but also enhance resilience, promote sustainability, and support equitable outcomes across climate sectors. The final CARP was adopted in 2024 and provides data-driven plan that integrates adaptation and mitigation to guide the Valley District’s policy-making and operations, and sets a model for water management in the face of climate change.

PROJECT MERIT: SHIPWRECK ARCHAEOLOGICAL SUSTAINABILITY

Stantec

Stantec has made significant strides in understanding climate change related risks to two historic 19th-century shipwrecks in the Arctic Ocean. Through its Indigenous business partnership with Nunami Stantec, Stantec has provided crucial hydrological and storm modeling to Parks Canada for the Wrecks of HMS Erebus and HMS Terror National Historic Site in Nunavut. These shipwrecks, tied to Sir John Franklin’s legendary expedition, are vital pieces of Arctic maritime history. Stantec’s research, which includes a numerical model of wind and wave patterns, helps Parks Canada and its Inuit partners understand and mitigate environmental threats to these sites. This work is essential as climate change increases the frequency and intensity of natural events in the Arctic, posing significant risks to the wrecks. Stantec’s efforts have been instrumental in supporting Parks Canada’s archaeological research, which recently recovered numerous artifacts and captured thousands of high-quality images. This collaboration not only aids in preserving these historic sites but also enhances our understanding of the environmental impacts of climate change.

 

PROJECT MERIT: UTILITY-SCALE OFFSHORE WIND

SWCA Environmental Consultants

SWCA Environmental Consultants played a pivotal role in the realization of America’s first utility-scale offshore wind farm, South Fork Wind. Located off the coast of New York, South Fork Wind reached a historic milestone in 2024: Construction is complete, and all 12 turbines are successfully delivering power to Long Island and the Rockaways. As the third-party National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) consultant, SWCA led the preparation of an environmental impact statement (EIS) to help make this project a reality. SWCA began assisting the Bureau of Ocean Management on the South Fork Wind project in 2018, providing agency coordination, public meeting facilitation, Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Action and Section 7 of the Environmental Species Act consultation, and prepared the draft and final EIS (2021). SWCA’s multidisciplinary team included specialists in air quality, water resources, environmental species, visual resources, and stakeholder engagement. Led by SWCA Senior Environmental Planners Sue Wilmot and Christy Hartmann, the team balanced adaptability while ensuring high-quality analysis. SWCA’s extensive NEPA experience guided federal agencies and Ørsted through the process efficiently. SWCA’s NEPA documents complied with legal requirements, presented practical mitigation measures, and integrated permitting requirements like those for endangered species.

 

PROJECT MERIT: DECARBONIZATION STRATEGY

Tetra Tech, Inc.

Tetra Tech supported the City of Los Angeles in developing a strategic framework and detailed roadmap to achieve its 2035 decarbonization goals across its nearly 1,000 municipally owned buildings. These buildings total over 21 million square feet, accounting for 34 percent of the City’s municipal greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Tetra Tech’s sustainability experts identified multiple decarbonization strategies to reduce GHG emissions and enhance resiliency, including electrification measures to eliminate onsite natural gas use, energy efficiency measures to reduce utility expenditures, and developed a strategy to deploy up to 25 MW of solar PV, battery energy storage, and microgrid systems throughout City-owned sites. Once implemented, 4 million therms of annual natural gas consumption, and 80,000 metric tons of annual CO2 emissions will be eliminated from City operations. Tetra Tech also developed a prioritization framework that will support the City’s annual planning efforts to optimize the sequencing of targeted investments in specific buildings over the next 10 years, factoring in emission reductions, equity, and cost considerations. To support implementation, Tetra Tech developed a customized interactive project tracking and reporting tool that integrates with the City’s Asset Management System and provides real-time updates on project completion, natural gas savings, and emissions reductions. The Decarbonization Workplan Report and Year-1 workbook are pending City Council Approval.

 

PROJECT MERIT: MUNICIPAL WASTE TO HYDROGEN FUEL

TRC

TRC continues to support the waste-to-energy project designed to change municipal waste to hydrogen fuel in Pittsburg, California being developed by HC (Contra Costa), LLC. TRC has for years been an active participant in the energy transition market. Starting in 2022, TRC provided technical studies for project development and design. Now in 2024, TRC successfully helped the City of Pittsburg to publish the draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Public support for the project has been good, as this will bring jobs both in construction and operation of the facility to an economically stressed area of San Francisco Bay. The public also recognizes the benefit of the city supporting the energy transition and the reduction of greenhouse gases it offers. This was evident when TRC helped facilitate the public meetings for the Draft EIR and responding to the public comments for the Final EIR. TRC has completed writing the Final EIR for the project and looks forward to working with the city to publish it in January 2025 as we keep helping the energy transition market move forward on the West Coast.

 

PROJECT MERIT: MARYLAND OFFSHORE WIND

TRC

TRC has supported US Wind as the lead environmental consultant on this project throughout its development and permitting. TRC was responsible for all the project’s federal and state permitting and led the preparation of the Construction and Operations Plan (COP). In addition, TRC completed offshore benthic community and shellfish density marine surveys, bat habitat surveys, visual simulations and a visual impact assessment, and air pollution control technology and air dispersion modeling assessments for the project. The Maryland Offshore Wind Project received approval of its COP from the Department of the Interior on December 3, 2024. The nation’s tenth commercial scale offshore wind project to receive COP approval to date, the project will be located in a lease area approximately 9 nautical miles offshore of Maryland and Delaware, could generate over 2 gigawatts of clean renewable energy power to over 718,000 homes, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from regional energy generation by up to 139 million tons over the life of the project by displacing energy currently produced by fossil fuel fired generating sources. Additionally, the development and construction phases of the project could support nearly 2,680 jobs annually over a seven-year period.

 

PROJECT MERIT: SOLAR HAZARDOUS WASTE INCINERATION

Veolia North America

A 5-MWac onsite solar project was installed at the Veolia Gum Springs Incineration facility with the goal of providing renewable energy to the facility, in order to reduce the impacts of the company’s hazardous waste treatment operations. The new 5MWac solar panel installation, completed in fall 2024, also provides excess power to the regional grid during times of peak solar production. Veolia North America is making a transformative investment in the heart of Arkansas, where a new, state-of-the-art thermal incinerator for the treatment of hazardous waste is under construction in Gum Springs and is expected to become operational in mid-2025. Beyond the transformational impact of the new incinerator, the Veolia Gum Springs project is setting a new industry standard for environmental performance and sustainability given Veolia’s unprecedented commitments to make the plant the most sustainable operation of its kind in the United States.

 

PROJECT MERIT: WAVE MONITORING

Weston Solutions Inc.

In 2024, Weston Solutions, Inc. provided project management and secured permitting for Backyard Buoys to address the need for localized wave data in Indigenous communities by deploying spotter buoys to collect wave data in real time. Complementing Traditional Knowledge, these buoys support sea safety and food security challenges amid weather and wave unpredictability induced by climate change. The project united three Integrated Ocean Observing Systems (Alaska, Pacific Northwest, and Pacific Islands), industry collaborators, and Indigenous community partners to co-design the project, including mooring systems, a website, and an app providing real-time wave data tailored to Indigenous users’ needs. This co-design approach, rare in projects bridging western science and Traditional Knowledge, successfully provided Indigenous users with desired wave data from locations important to their community.  Weston’s pivotal role included program coordination, facilitating working groups and local, state, and federal permitting. Each region now has buoys in the water, with users accessing valuable data shared with the National Weather Service to improve regional weather models. The project’s success is underscored by funding from the Inflation Reduction Act, allowing for continued and expanded buoy deployments for the next five years. Ultimately, the goal is to transfer ownership and sustainable stewardship to Indigenous users, empowering them to manage and use the data independently

 

TECHNOLOGY MERIT: CLIMATE PROJECTION ASSESSMENT TOOL

EA Engineering, Science, and Technology, Inc., PBC

EA developed a proprietary Climate Projection Assessment Tool (CPAT) for internal use in supporting clients facing environmental challenges due to climate change. This tool enables the acquisition, visualization, and integration of climate change projections, facilitating the definition and implementation of risk management practices. Our technology and climate teams collaborated with market sector leaders to identify client needs and industry standards, informing CPAT’s development. Initially, CPAT was integrated into the climate vulnerability assessment process to enhance resilience at remediation and environmental restoration sites. Ignoring climate change at these sites poses significant human and environmental risks. These sites may lose protective remedies, exposing the public to hazardous contaminants, while restoration sites may fail to provide long-term habitat and environmental benefits.

Climate projections, typically designed for scientific research, require translation for business use. CPAT addresses this by obtaining and transforming large, complex climate projection data into business-relevant metrics. It provides industry-relevant metrics through a user-friendly geographic interface. The project stages range from pre-design to implementation and performance monitoring. EA convened expert focus groups to guide the development of informative metrics and delivery mechanisms for each project stage. Training sessions for technical staff facilitated CPAT’s integration into projects and established a continuous improvement dialogue.

 

TECHNOLOGY MERIT: COLLOIDAL ACTIVATED CARBON

REGENESIS

Incorporating in situ remediation using colloidal activated carbon (CAC) technologies (PlumeStop® and SourceStop®) to address PFAS groundwater contaminants offers significant GHG reduction over time. In a recent case, a CAC barrier treated 5 million gallons of groundwater at a PFAS-contaminated site near an international airport, delivering an energy-free, zero-waste solution that eliminates PFAS exposure risks. A life cycle assessment revealed that this in situ approach would emit 98% fewer GHGs over 15 years compared to a theoretical ex situ pump-and-treat (P&T) system. The passive design of the PlumeStop barrier eliminated energy-intensive pumping and waste management, achieving a 95% reduction in raw materials usage and waste generation. Economically, the CAC barrier reduced remediation costs to less than 40% of the P&T system’s projected expenses, highlighting its cost-effectiveness. This innovative approach also demonstrated significantly higher sustainability performance, weighted across 15 environmental, economic, and social criteria using the SURE by Ramboll framework. By treating contamination directly in the aquifer, CAC barriers prevent secondary waste streams, reduce environmental redistribution risks, and minimize long-term liabilities.

 

TECHNOLOGY MERIT: TRANSITION RISK AND OPPORTUNITY ANALYZER

WSP

Businesses face both opportunities and challenges from policy, technology and market changes necessary to meet climate mitigation and adaptation goals. Managing transition risks and realizing opportunities are crucial. The Transition Risk and Opportunity Analyzer Tool (TROY), designed by WSP, is a cutting-edge tool helping companies navigate the complexity of climate risk. TROY’s main purpose is to automate transition scenario data collection and analysis, utilizing a data-driven approach to qualitatively score/assess a company’s risks and opportunities, which will support compliance efforts and develop useful messaging for stakeholders. WSP pairs TROY with expertise as a global engineering firm across numerous industries, including transportation and infrastructure, energy and resources, climate finance, and technology.

TROY delivers: 

• Custom Risk and Opportunity Reports: Detailed reports outlining the specific risks and opportunities relevant to the client’s business, complete with actionable recommendations. 
• Scenario Analysis: Exploration of various future scenarios to understand potential outcomes and develop robust strategies to mitigate risks and capitalize on opportunities. 
• Stakeholder Engagement and Communication: Support in communicating transition risk management strategies to stakeholders, including investors, regulators and customers.

 

TECHNOLOGY MERIT: CARBON REMOVAL

Graphyte Carbon Removal

Graphyte Carbon Removal, a carbon removal and sequestration firm backed by Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy Ventures began operations at its Arkansas-based plant in February 2024. Graphyte’s carbon sequestration solution’s price is considerably lower and can work faster than other sequestration solutions. The carbon block solution is also scalable, and can potentially remove billions of tons of carbon. By-products of the timber and agriculture industries, otherwise burned or left to decompose, are collected. These by-products are considered biomass, dried to stop decomposition, and then condensed into dense blocks. The blocks are wrapped with an impermeable polymer sheet, making them environmentally safe and ensuring that decomposition does not restart. The blocks are stored in state-of-the-art sites with sensors and tracers, enabling robust long-term monitoring. Storage sites can serve multiple purposes, such as solar farms or agricultural land, and are designed to last up to 1,000 years. As experts in designing and implementing safe, long-lasting solutions that reduce, reuse, or store waste, SCS Engineers partners with Graphyte by providing environmental engineering design services for its storage facilities.

 

MILESTONE: 15 YEARS IN THE CLIMATE CHANGE INDUSTRY

ClimeCo

ClimeCo (Boyertown, Pa.), a leader in decarbonization, announced its 15th anniversary, marking a milestone as one of the industry’s earliest and most impactful players. ClimeCo and its clients have surpassed 40 million tonnes of CO2e reduced, avoided or removed through its projects since its inception in 2009. ClimeCo remains at the forefront of developing innovative and economically viable emissions reduction projects. Founder and CEO William Flederbach noted that ClimeCo has grown from a focus on nitrous oxide abatement to a comprehensive sustainability solutions provider. Key achievements and innovations include: Trailblazing as a leading developer of N2O abatement projects; Developing the first plastic credit project verified on Verra; Industry leadership through defining and driving the voluntary carbon market through thought leadership and new methodologies; and expanding operations and projects to multiple continents. With offices throughout North America and Singapore and a recent expansion into Europe with ClimeCo Türkiye, ClimeCo continues its mission of advancing a low-carbon future and restoring nature with market-based solutions.

 

INVESTMENT

Twelve ($645M Series C & Project Equity)

Founded in 2015, Twelve specializes in carbon transformation, converting captured CO? into sustainable fuels. The company raised $645 million, including $400M in project equity led by TPG Rise Climate, $200M in Series C financing, and $45M in loans, to build AirPlant™ One, a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) facility in Washington. With major investors like Capricorn Investment Group and Alaska Airlines, Twelve aims to produce its E-Jet® fuel with up to 90% lower emissions than fossil fuels, positioning itself as a leader in the SAF market. Twelve has raised over $850 million across multiple rounds since inception.

 

INVESTMENT

X-energy ($500M Series C-1 Investment)

Founded in 2009, X-energy focuses on small modular reactors (SMRs) and TRISO-X fuel technology. Amazon, Citadel’s Ken Griffin, and other investors contributed $500 million in Series C-1 funding to accelerate the deployment of Xe-100 reactors and the TRISO-X fuel fabrication facility. This investment supports a 320MW nuclear project with Energy Northwest, helping Amazon integrate carbon-free power into its operations while advancing next-generation nuclear energy. To date, X-energy has secured more than $1 billion in funding.

 

INVESTMENT

Fervo Energy ($255M Investment)

Founded in 2017, Fervo Energy specializes in enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) using oil and gas drilling techniques. The company secured $255 million, with $135 million in corporate equity led by Capricorn’s Technology Impact Fund II and $120 million in credit from Mercuria. Funding will support its 2GW Cape Station geothermal project, expected to be operational by 2026, reinforcing Fervo’s position as a leader in next-generation geothermal energy. Fervo has raised over $500 million since founding.

 

INVESTMENT

Avantus & KKR ($1B Investment)

Avantus, formerly 8minute Solar Energy, is a leading solar and energy storage developer with a 30GW solar and 94GWh storage pipeline. KKR acquired a majority stake in the company as its first U.S. investment under its Global Climate Strategy, committing over $1 billion. The investment will scale solar-plus-storage projects across California and the Southwest, positioning Avantus as a major player in the large-scale renewable energy transition. Avantus has raised over $1.5 billion in funding to date.

 

INVESTMENT

Helion Energy ($425M Series F Funding)

Founded in 2013, Helion Energy focuses on commercial fusion power, developing the Polaris reactor. The company raised $425 million in a Series F round led by Lightspeed Venture Partners and SoftBank Vision Fund 2, bringing its valuation to $5.4 billion. Helion plans to supply 50MW of fusion energy to Microsoft by 2028, accelerating the commercialization of clean fusion energy. Helion has secured more than $1.2 billion in total funding.

 

INVESTMENT

Oklo Inc. ($306M Public Listing)

Founded in 2013, Oklo develops fast fission microreactors and nuclear fuel recycling technology for AI, data centers, and defense applications. The company raised $306 million through a SPAC merger with AltC Acquisition Corp, backed by Sam Altman. Oklo’s Aurora reactor will provide long-term, contract-based power, prioritizing direct energy sales to industrial customers while advancing nuclear fuel innovation. Oklo has raised over $450 million since inception.

 

INVESTMENT

Form Energy ($405M Series F Funding)

Form Energy, a pioneer in iron-air battery technology, raised $405 million in Series F funding led by T. Rowe Price and GE Vernova. Funding supports the expansion of its Weirton, W.V. manufacturing plant, which aims to produce 500MW of long-duration energy storage batteries annually by 2028. Since founding in 2017, Form Energy has secured over $850 million in funding.

 

INVESTMENT

Intersect Power ($837M for 1GWh Battery Energy Storage Systems)

Intersect Power, a developer of solar and storage projects, secured $837 million for three standalone battery energy storage systems (BESS) in Texas. The financing, supported by Morgan Stanley, HPS Investment Partners, and Deutsche Bank, will deploy Tesla Megapacks to store solar energy and enhance grid reliability, leveraging incentives from the Inflation Reduction Act. Intersect Power has raised more than $4 billion in capital.

 

INVESTMENT

Cyclic Materials ($53M Series B Funding)

Founded in 2021, Cyclic Materials specializes in recycling rare earth elements (REEs) used in EV motors and wind turbines. The company raised $53 million in Series B funding from ArcTern Ventures, BDC Capital, and Hitachi Ventures. The investment will expand REE recycling operations across North America and Europe, strengthening the domestic clean-energy supply chain. Cyclic Materials has raised $85 million in total.

 

INVESTMENT

LS Power ($2.7B Fund V Investment)

LS Power, a major energy infrastructure investor, raised $2.7 billion for its Fund V, with $1.6 billion committed to renewable fuels, green hydrogen, and clean energy projects. The fund also acquired Algonquin Power’s 3GW North American renewable portfolio, supporting large-scale energy transition initiatives across the United States. LS Power has deployed over $10 billion in energy infrastructure investments.

 

INVESTMENT

Deep Sky ($75M Series A Funding)

Deep Sky, a Canadian carbon removal company with U.S. operations, secured $75 million from Whitecap Venture Partners, Investissement Quebec, and BDC Capital. Funding will support pilot projects and the development of a commercial-scale carbon removal facility in Quebec, aiming to remove gigatons of CO? and lead in carbon capture technology. Deep Sky has raised over $100 million in total.

 

INVESTMENT

Heirloom Carbon Technologies ($150M Series B Funding)

Heirloom, founded in 2020, raised $150 million in Series B funding from Future Positive and Lowercarbon Capital to scale its direct air capture (DAC) technology. The company uses carbon mineralization to remove CO? from the atmosphere efficiently and permanently, positioning itself as a key player in carbon removal. Heirloom has secured more than $200 million in total funding.

 

INVESTMENT

CarbonCapture Inc. ($80M Series A Funding)

CarbonCapture, a Los Angeles-based DAC technology company, secured $80 million in Series A funding from investors including Amazon’s Climate Pledge Fund and Aramco Ventures. Funding supports the deployment of modular DAC machines that capture CO? for long-term removal, with pre-sold carbon credits to Microsoft, Meta, and other corporations. CarbonCapture has raised over $115 million to date.