Audubon Clean Energy Director Named Board Chair of American Wind and Wildlife Institute
WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 7, 2020) – Garry George, clean energy director at the National Audubon Society, has been named chair of the board of the American Wind and Wildlife Institute (AWWI). George has served on the AWWI board since 2015.
“The findings of Audubon’s 2019 report, Survival by Degrees: 389 Bird Species on the Brink, underscore the urgency with which climate change must be addressed to avoid catastrophic impacts to birds, as well as other wildlife,” said George. “Transitioning to clean energy is an essential component of mitigating climate change, and AWWI plays a pivotal role in enabling wind energy to expand while using the best available science, research and technology to avoid, minimize, and mitigate impacts to birds and other wildlife. I am excited to serve in this leadership role in working with AWWI, the dedicated Board of NGOS and industry, and many committed stakeholders to advance these efforts.”
George started his Audubon career as a volunteer for Los Angeles Audubon with KILL YOUR LAWN, a program modeled after his own yard to reduce water use and greenhouse gases from mowers and blowers, and to create native plant habitat to attract birds and other wildlife. He served in several leadership capacities for both LA Audubon and Audubon California before being named to his current role as clean energy director for Audubon in 2017, specializing in the intersection of utility-scale wind, solar, geothermal energies and transmission, climate, and birds.
“Garry understands better than just about anyone that if you care about protecting birds, you should care about clean energy,” said David O’Neill, chief conservation officer at the National Audubon Society. “He is an invaluable authority on clean energy and a steadfast champion of wildlife and a great partner with industry. AWWI is fortunate to have him in this position and we’re proud to be an AWWI partner.”
He also holds seats representing Audubon on several stakeholder groups including Avian Solar Work Group, California Offshore Wind Working Group and Regional Science Entity Work Group for Atlantic Offshore Wind to facilitate research and new technologies to develop environmentally responsible utility-scale clean energy, as well as collaborations with FWS and other federal and state agencies and our NGO partners. He leads the Audubon network in clean energy planning, permitting policies, individual projects and transmission planning to reach the organization’s clean energy goals while protecting birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow.
About Audubon
The National Audubon Society protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. Audubon works throughout the Americas using science, advocacy, education, and on-the-ground conservation. State programs, nature centers, chapters, and partners give Audubon an unparalleled wingspan that reaches millions of people each year to inform, inspire, and unite diverse communities in conservation action. A nonprofit conservation organization since 1905, Audubon believes in a world in which people and wildlife thrive. Learn more at www.audubon.org and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @audubonsociety.