Renewable energy on the red carpet

The renewable-energy community has its own awards show. 

Unlike the Tonys this Sunday, the 2nd annual IREO Renewable Energy Awards Gala on Thursday, June 11, isn’t likely to feature a lot of singing and dancing – although they could get a few laughs by presenting the windmill scene from “Man of La Mancha.” But it’s still a big deal: The Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Organization, which is associated with the United Nations, will honor people from around the world who help advance alternative energy solutions by challenging conventional wisdom and encouraging critical thinking that leads to positive reform.

Creative people, in other words.       

The event, which will be held following the IREO Renewable Energy Conference at New York City’s UN Headquarters, has a slew of honors to present and an impressive roster of stars to hand them out.  Actor and environmental activist Ed Begley Jr., musician Wyclef Jean and actor Chazz Palminteri are among those on the host committee; Good Morning America weather anchor Sam Champion will emcee; and actors Tony Goldwyn, Matthew Modine, Carla Ortiz and Billy Zane will hand out the prizes.

And who’s getting them? They range from a prince to an 11-year-old kid. Here’s the list:

 Luiz Marinho, Mayor of Sao Bernardo do Campo, Government Award, dedicated to developing Environmental laws that benefit the health of the people of Sao Paolo

 HRH Prince Malik ado Ibrahim of Nigeria, Best Practices Award, investor in Solar technology for the developing world

 Sulabh International Social Service Organisation, NGO Award, promoter of human rights, environmental sanitation, health and hygiene, non- conventional sources of energy, waste management and social reforms through education

Dynomotive Fuels, Private sector award, emerging leaders in converting both biomass residues and energy crops into fuels that are technologically viable and environmentally sound, as well as economically competitive to fossil fuels

 Dr. Arthur J. Nozik, Science and Technology Award, Senior Research Fellow Scientific Director, Center for Revolutionary Solar Photoconversion.  National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and University of Colorado, Boulder – Winner of 2008 ENI Award

Dr. Daniel Nocera, Science and Technology Award, The Henry Dreyfus Professor of Energy and Professor of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.  Named one of The Time 100 in 2009

Vassilas Keramidas, Science and Technology Award, IEEE Fellow and retired researcher for AT&T Bell Labs and Bellcore Research

Ronaldo Luis Nazario de Lima, IREO Renewable Energy Certificate of Recognition UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador dedicated to building a better world for our children

Richard Best, IREO Renewable Energy Certificate of Recognition, Founder of EcoDesign, an architecture and design firm focusing on sustainability

 John Paul DeJoria, Goodwill Ambassador, Owner of Paul Mitchell Systems, Patron, Sun King Solar

Josh Tickell, Goodwill Ambassador, Director of the Sundance award winning film, FUEL

Cafu (Marcos Evangelista de Moraes), Goodwill Ambassador, Captain of Brazilian National Soccer Team and World Cup Champion in 1994 and 2002 and Founder of the Carfu Foundation offering community Education, Health, the Arts and Sports programs for underprivileged children

Nikos Spiridakos Jr., Goodwill Ambassador, now-11-year-old director of Climate Change PSA Save It

What is it the child made? (With some help, of course …) Take a look:

 (If you want to attend the gala and think you can afford it, go to: http://ireoawards.com/ )