The Sunny, which honors each year’s greatest contribution to solar energy in Colorado, may not be the most prestigious award — but at nearly 40 pounds, it could be the heaviest.
“Each year since it was first awarded in 1989, each recipient has been invited to add something associated with solar energy,” said Ken Regelson, a Boulder energy consultant and the 2011 recipient. “It is getting a little hard to handle. I was thinking one contribution I could make was luggage wheels.”
The award has slowly begun to resemble R2-D2, the plucky “Star Wars” robot, although it doesn’t beep or do battle with the Dark Side — which makes sense since it’s a solar-energy award.
Bestowed by the Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association at its annual February meeting, the Sunny goes to the member who made the greatest contribution to the advancement of the solar industry in the state in the past year.
“There are so many members who are really spending volunteer hours to promote solar energy, we wanted to recognize those people,” said Neal Lurie, executive director of the association.
Regelson was recognized for a range of efforts, including developing Amendment 37, which in 2004 added a renewable-energy standard to the state constitution, and discussing solar-energy issues before the Public Utilities Commission and at the state Capitol.
Regelson said he will add to the award a placard featuring Amendment 37’s preamble: “Growth of the state’s population and economic base will continue to create a need for new energy resources, and Colorado’s renewable energy resources are currently underutilized.”
And so, the Sunny, now about 3 feet tall, will reside this year in the Regelson home — though, if Regelson’s wife has her way, not in the living room.
“In the early years, the Colorado industry was focused on solar water heating, so the bottom of the award is all plumbing, pipes and valves,” Regelson said.
Atop the award are solar panels, one of which is connected to a chargeable battery pack.
While the Sunny may not be capable of R2-D2-ish feats, it can twirl a metal platter and power a flashlight.
May the force be with you, Sunny.
Mark Jaffe: 303-954-1912 or mjaffe@denverpost.com
