NECEC (New England Clean Energy Council and NECEC Institute) tonight announced its Seventh Annual “Green Tie Gala” awards, honoring Next Step Living, GreenerU, Ambri, First Wind and Greentown Labs’ Emily Reichert and Jason Hanna for their leadership and contributions to the region’s leading clean energy economy. In addition, NECEC presented its Leadership Award to Rob Day, Partner at Black Coral Capital, and Andrew Friendly, Director of Government Policy and Strategy at Autodesk, for their contribution and dedication to fostering cleantech innovation programs in the region.

“Tonight’s awardees exemplify the innovative business models, leading research & development, and significant deployment of clean energy in our region,” said Peter Rothstein, NECEC President. “Clean energy is at a tipping point and the companies honored and in attendance at the Green Tie Gala are proof that this industry is making significant contributions to the region’s economy, energy system and environment.”

2014 Green Tie Gala Company Award Winners & Finalists:

• Emerging Company of the Year: Ambri
• Finalists: FirstFuel & Retroficiency

• Breakout Company of the Year: Next Step Living and GreenerU
• Finalists: Oasys

• Employer of the Year: First Wind
• Finalists: Enernoc & Digital Lumens

• Startup Supporter of the Year: Greentown Labs’ Executive Director, Emily Reichert, and Founder Jason Hanna
• Finalists: Jeff Marks, E2Tech and Doreen Kula, NEXUS-NY at High Tech Rochester

• NECEC Leadership Award: Rob Day, Partner, Black Coral Capital andAndrew Friendly, Director of Government Policy and Strategy, Autodesk

NECEC’s 7th Annual Green Tie Gala was held at the Fairmont Copley Hotel in Boston and attracted more than 400 leaders and stakeholders in the clean energy industry, including company CEOs, government officials, service providers, academics, venture investment firms, labor and large commercial end-users and area utilities. Sponsors of NECEC’s 7^th Annual Green Tie Gala include Deloitte, Energizing Co., General Electric, the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, National Grid, Northeast Utilities, Rasky Baerlein, Schneider Electric, Shell and William Gallagher & Associates.

About NECEC (The New England Clean Energy Council and the NECEC Institute)

NECEC is a regional non-profit organization representing clean energy companies and entrepreneurs throughout New England and the Northeast through programs and initiatives that help clean energy businesses at all stages of development to access the resources they need to grow. NECEC includes the New England Clean Energy Council, which is the lead voice for hundreds of clean energy companies across New England, influencing the energy policy agenda and growing the clean energy economy, and the NECEC Institute, which leads programs that support Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Cluster and Economic Development and Workforce Development. NECEC’s mission is to accelerate the region’s clean energy economy to global leadership by building an active community of stakeholders and a world-class cluster of clean energy companies.