Jan. 26, 2015
The list of notable awards presented to Diane E. Mills (BS Egr Arts ’82) has grown significantly of recent.
Mills is an account executive with Ameresco, a leading energy efficiency and renewable energy company.
On Sept. 30, she was honored as the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) Region III Energy Manager of the year during the 2014 AEE Regional Awards presentation in Washington, D.C.
Mills is an active advocate for energy efficiency projects in Michigan. She is a founding member of Michigan’s Energy Services Coalition chapter and has served as the chapter’s president for two years. The coalition’s goal is to promote energy efficiency in the State of Michigan, including using Energy Savings Performance Contracting (ESPC) as one model.
She has successfully led a number of efforts to encourage ESPC projects in Michigan, including Farwell Area Schools, Ovid-Elsie Area Schools, Mesick Consolidated Schools, Montcalm County Community College, City of Battle Creek, and Alpena County.
“I am honored to be recognized by the AEE for my work,” she said. “It is exciting to be part of the tremendous change that is occurring in Michigan in providing affordable funding for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. The state has a backlog of buildings in need of infrastructure upgrades and improvements, and once implemented, these projects are expected to result in not only enhanced buildings and environments but local job creation as well.”
Her national recognition was followed up in November 2014 with a project award from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and Energy Services Coalition for her work in the City of Battle Creek. The award recognized the project’s sustainability focus and leadership in efficiency initiatives.
“I have worked to remove barriers specific to Michigan that were limiting large scale energy efficiency and renewable energy projects,” she said. “I’ve helped create a public-private partnership with the State of Michigan, worked with the utilities, developed an industry coalition, worked to organize, write, pass and implement two pieces of legislation (PA625 in 2013 and HB5806), worked with the utilities and Michigan Public Service Commission and several non-profit and trade organizations.
“We have come a very long way but still have a lot to do. Michigan has still has great potential,” she added.
***
MSU is a family affair for Diane Mills. Her three Spartan daughters are:
Allison Marie Mills (AES ’10, Supply Chain Cognate),
Jennifer Mills (B.A., Political Science ’11), and
Lauren Mills (M.S., Marketing Research ’11; B.A., Advertising with Psychology major ’10).
