On Tuesday, August 20, La Brea Hancock resident and former LADWP Commissioner Bill Funderburk was one of six people honored by the Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies (CEERT) at its 17th Annual Clean Power Champion Awards in Sacramento.
CEERT is a non-profit “partnership of major environmental groups and private-sector clean energy companies” that designs and promotes “global warming solutions and increased reliance on clean, renewable energy sources for California and the West.” Its annual awards program honors those it deems “champions and pioneers of energy conservation and green, renewable energy.”
Funderburk, in addition to his former work with LADWP, is a founding partner in the law firm Castellón & Funderburk LLP, which specializes in environmental and other business issues. More locally, he was also a longtime member of the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council, and serves on the board of the La Brea Hancock Homeowners Association.
Funderburk was recognized by CEERT for his “efforts to move LADWP away from coal and natural gas, and spearheaded local investments in rooftop solar, storage and other clean energy strategies.” The organization said that over the course of Funderburk’s career, “he has helped develop many successful projects on sustainability, renewables, water quality, geothermal, air quality, groundwater resources, water recycling, storm water capture, and is a recognized leader on clean tech and climate policy issues.”
Funderburk said in announcement to friends prior to the ceremony, “I’ll be forever grateful for the opportunity partners, associates and staff provided me to work under Mayor Eric Garcetti’s and his staff’s leadership on clean energy and just transition to good paying jobs from 2013-2018 while serving as Board Vice President and LA Department of Water and Power Commissioner.”
This year’s other CEERT awardees were Dan Jacobson, State Director, Environment California, Mark Ferron, Former CPUC Commissioner and CAISO Board Member, Lorenzo Kristov, Consultant, Electricity System Policy, Structure & Market Design…and Aura Vásquez, another former LADWP commissioner, who is now running for an LA City Council seat in Distrct 10 (where incumbent Herb Wesson will be termed out in 2020). Vásquez was honored for her work with both LADWP and the Sierra Club, as well as her history as a community organizer, advocate and activist for environmental and social justice issues in New York, Washington, D.C. and California. CEERT Director Carl Zichella also received a Special Achievement Award.
