Saint John Energy VP named one of Canada’s Clean50 leaders

Saint John Energy’s approach to creating the Utility of the Future for its customers is garnering national attention as its vice-president is being named one of Canada’s Clean50 leaders for 2021.

Canada’s Clean50 today announced that Ryan Mitchell, Saint John Energy’s vice-president and chief development officer, is being singled out for championing a strategy for growth that includes a smart power grid enabled with advanced artificial intelligence and the Burchill Wind Project that will power about 15 per cent of the city with clean energy.

“We’re so proud of Ryan for receiving this prestigious recognition. It echoes all we know about him already – a leader with integrity, dedicated to doing what’s right for the future of his community,” said Ray Robinson, president and CEO of Saint John Energy.

The Clean50 awards are announced annually by Delta Management Group and the Clean50 organization to recognize those 50 individuals or small teams across 16 different categories who have done the most to advance the cause of sustainability and clean capitalism in Canada.

“I’m flattered to be among Canada’s Clean50 leaders, but this award really belongs to everyone at Saint John Energy working tirelessly to build on our organization’s incredible legacy and embrace a new energy future for our city and our customers,” said Mitchell, who is recognized in the Traditional Energy & Generation category.

A record number of nominees – more than 900 individuals – were considered for the Clean50 for 2021. In choosing Mitchell for the recognition, organizers noted, “Ryan is championing a strategy of growth driven by innovation and the pursuit of cleaner energy solutions, where the centrepiece is the creation of a smart grid driven by advanced artificial intelligence.”

The sophisticated, $13 million power grid bolsters efficiency, curbs GHG emissions, and ties in a significant injection of renewable energy. The project aims to smooth peaks in energy demand and involved the world’s first installation of a Tesla Megapack battery. Saint John Energy also spearheaded the Burchill Wind Project, enabling them to provide about 15 per cent of the power needs for the city while saving millions of dollars a year in energy purchasing costs.

Gavin Pitchford, award founder and Clean50 executive director, said “It was “extremely difficult” to choose the final 50 honorees. There is no vaccine for climate change – but these remarkable Canadian leaders provide some hope we can find ways to slow it down, and also ensure Canada is positioned for the low-carbon economy.”

The individuals we chose for the Clean50 this year are true leaders, and should be an inspiration for all Canadians. Assuming COVID restrictions have been relaxed, Pitchford said, “Approximately 120 past and incoming Clean50 honourees will gather at the Clean50 Summit 10.0 in Toronto on Sept. 30 to spend a day amongst peers and colleagues tackling critical sustainability challenges facing Canada.”

About Saint John Energy

Saint John Energy is a progressive energy company providing trusted energy solutions to more than 36,000 residential and business customers in Saint John, New Brunswick. Locally owned and operated since 1922, it is one of the highest-rated electrical utilities in Canada for reliability and customer satisfaction. It holds the coveted Sustainable Electricity Company designation and is recognized nationally for innovation. For more information, visit www.sjenergy.com.

About Delta Management Group / Canada’s Clean50

Leading ESG, sustainability and clean tech search firm Delta Management Group in 2011 founded, and remains the steward of the Canada’s Clean50 awards, created to annually identify, recognize and connect 50 sustainability leaders from every sector of Canadian endeavor, in order to facilitate understanding, collaboration and innovation in the fight to keep climate change impacts below 1.5 degrees C. Ancillary awards also recognize 20 Emerging Leaders and the Top Sustainability Projects of the year, as well as bestow Lifetime Achievement designations.

Source(s) and image(s): Saint John Energy