Ellen Crivella was awarded for her role as an educator, advocate, and leader for wind-power environmental and siting issues. DNV GL’s Ellen Crivella was honored with the 2016 Rising Star Award at the Women of Wind Energy (WoWE) luncheon at the 2016 AWEA Windpower Conference and Exhibition last week. Each year, the Rising Star Award recognizes a woman relatively new to wind energy who has already made significant professional contributions and shown unusual talent, dedication and innovation in their wind industry work. As DNV GL’s global head of practice for environmental and permitting services, Crivella has been involved in the siting, permitting, and financing of over 10,000 MW of renewable energy projects. She has also recruited key talent and quickly established DNV GL as an expert advisor in avian and other wildlife issues for wind power. “Ellen is remarkable for her environmental expertise and her business acumen, but she is most commendable for her passion and her generosity to share her knowledge,” said Clint Johnson, Senior VP in renewable energy for DNV GL. “During her time at DNV GL, Ellen has doubled the size of the team and expanded both the scope and depth of our environmental and permitting services, all while being a tireless champion of WoWE.” At DNV GL, Crivella leads a team of 20 focused on comprehensive permitting, regulatory compliance, and environmental due diligence services for renewable energy developments. She is responsible for all technical, financial, commercial, and quality assurance aspects of the services in her practice while developing and mentoring a young and growing team. Crivella holds master’s degrees from Vermont Law School and The Ohio State University. She frequently presents at AWEA and other industry conferences and teaches seminars such as AWEA’s Wind Energy 101 series. She is a committed volunteer, with roles that include board member and secretary of Solar Oregon, member of Oregon Association of Environmental Professionals, industry awards committee past chair of Soil Science Society of America, member of the National Mentoring Program Committee at WoWE and the Portland WoWE chapter president. “At a time when wind power is growing in adoption, this recognition by WoWE – which is itself playing an important role in shaping the future of wind energy – of Ellen’s role as a mentor and leader, is greatly valued by all of us at DNV GL,” said Carole Barbeau, DNV GL President of energy advisory for the Americas region.