Demand response only succeeds through the efforts of all the organizations that reduce energy use when needed. And in 2021, a year where demand response was crucial to keeping the energy grid reliable in regions across the US, many of our customers went above and beyond in their efforts.
With our annual Demand Response Awards, we look to recognize customers who made important contributions during demand response events in 2021, meeting and beating their energy reduction commitments to help to keep energy flowing for their local communities. Below we honor our first group of 2021 award winners—our full list of winners spans Alberta, California, Ontario, New York, the Mid-Atlantic, the Midwest, New England, and Texas.
Sustainable Footprint Award Winner: Americold Logistics LLC
Americold is the world’s largest publicly-traded REIT focused on the ownership, operation, acquisition and development of temperature-controlled warehouses. In addition to being an integral component of the food supply chain, Americold supports local energy demand response programs in Tennessee, California, New England, Missouri, Florida, Texas, Alabama, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, and Virginia. This is Americold’s second demand response award; they also won a Sustainability Footprint award for their work in 2020.
Sustainable Footprint Award Winner: US Foods
US Foods is one of America’s great food companies and a leading foodservice distributor, partnering with approximately 300,000 restaurants and foodservice operators to help their businesses succeed. Through the company’s commitment to demand response programming, US Foods is responsibly managing their electricity resources to support the reduction of energy use during times of grid instability to relieve stress and prevent blackouts, contribute to rate stabilization, and lower associated carbon intensity.
Sustainable Footprint Award Winner: United States Cold Storage Inc.
United States Cold Storage is driven to advance, innovate, and serve its customers seeking the best in cold service, facilities, and logistics within the cold chain industry, with deep commitments to safety and sustainability. Demand response is one component of this commitment. This award is further proof of United States Cold Storage’s commitment to its employees, its customers, and to the environment. This is United States Cold Storage’s second year in a row winning Enel X’s Sustainable Footprint Award.
Market MVP - Ontario: Cascades Canada Inc.
Cascades plants in Trenton and Mississauga. Today, Cascades offers sustainable, innovative and value-added solutions for packaging, hygiene and recovery needs. This commitment to sustainability carries over in their efforts in demand response, where they’ve done incredible work in supporting their local grid.
Market MVP – West Virginia: Blue Racer Midstream, LLC
Blue Racer is a natural gas midstream company that provides a full suite of vertically integrated natural gas midstream services, including natural gas gathering and processing, mixed NGL fractionation and condensate stabilization, and NGL marketing and transportation, to producers operating in the Appalachian Basin, specifically in southeastern Ohio and the panhandle of West Virginia. Blue Racer Midstream’s West Virginia site was one of our top demand response performers.
Market MVP - New York: Brookfield Properties
Brookfield Properties develops and operates real estate investments on behalf of Brookfield Asset Management — one of the largest alternative asset managers in the world. From office to retail, logistics to multifamily, and hospitality to development, they work across sectors to bring high-quality, sustainable real estate to life around the globe every day. The work of Brookfield’s Brooklyn, New York properties was a highlight of our demand response program this year – we’re honoring their contribution with a Market MVP award.
Resiliency Award: Georgia-Pacific – Diboll
Georgia-Pacific is one of the world's leading makers of bath tissue, cellulose, paper-based packaging, building products and related chemicals. The company makes famous household brands, such as Brawny® paper towels, Quilted Northern® bath tissue and Dixie® cups, as well as materials for the construction industry as a leading supplier of lumber and building materials. We’re recognizing Georgia-Pacific’s Diboll, Texas facilities for their demand response efforts and contributions to resiliency in the face of grid stress. Most notably, Georgia-Pacific Diboll made major contributions to reducing energy use as the grid struggled during February’s Winter Storm Uri in Texas.
