NCEL Announces 2024 Awards to Seven State Legislators For Exceptional Environmental Leadership

On August 2, the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators (NCEL) announced the recipients of the annual NCEL Awards, recognizing seven state lawmakers for their exceptional leadership and policy work on environmental issues. The awards were presented at NCEL’s annual National Forum which is taking place August 1-3 in Louisville, Kentucky, with over 115 legislators from 37 states and territories in attendance. 

The Rising Environmental Leader Award was presented to Utah State Senator Nate Blouin and Wisconsin State Representative Darrin Madison. The Environmental Achievement Award was presented to Colorado State Senator Chris Hansen, Oregon State Senator Michael Dembrow, and Minnesota State Representative Frank Hornstein. The Environmental Activism Award was presented to Kentucky State Representative Nima Kulkarni and Indiana State Representative Maureen Bauer. 

Rising Environmental Leader Award

The Rising Environmental Leader Award is presented to members of the Caucus who have demonstrated outstanding leadership on environmental issues early in their legislative careers. 

Utah State Senator Nate Blouin

Utah State Senator Nate Blouin received the Rising Environmental Leader Award for his growing leadership role in enhancing the power grid for the renewable energy future, including sponsoring nation-leading legislation to promote the use of Grid Enhancing Technologies (GETs), working in a bipartisan manner, and uplifting the grid work of state lawmakers at high-profile venues such as the White House Grid Summit.

Wisconsin State Representative Darrin Madison

Living up to his background in forestry and community advocacy, Wisconsin State Representative Darrin Madison received the Rising Environmental Leader Award for his work engaging his colleagues and finding common ground on complicated environmental issues including increasing equitable outdoor access and advancing a Green Amendment that would set a new national precedent.

Environmental Achievement Award

The Leon G. Billings Environmental Achievement Award – named by the Board of Directors as a memorial to the organization’s founder, former Maryland Delegate Leon G. Billings, who is widely known as the U.S. Senate staffer responsible for writing the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act – was presented to members of the Caucus for outstanding achievements on environmental policies throughout their careers. 

Colorado State Senator Chris Hansen

Longtime NCEL Member Colorado State Senator Chris Hansen was named one of the 2024 Environmental Achievement Award recipients for the leadership role he has played in transitioning to a climate-friendly power grid, including becoming known as the go-to contact for grid policy in the Western region and sponsoring successful legislation that committed Colorado to reducing emissions 100% by 2050.

Oregon State Senator Michael Dembrow

State Senator Michael Dembrow was awarded the Environmental Achievement Award for a strong record of environmental leadership that includes working devotedly on climate action, extended producer responsibility for plastics, wetland protection, and being among the NCEL members to coordinate a 2018 multi-state effort speaking out against the federal government’s support of offshore drilling.

Minnesota State Representative Frank Hornstein

Minnesota State Representative Frank Hornstein received the Environmental Achievement Award for a career dedicated to environmental progress which includes playing a leading role in passing a historic sustainable transportation package in 2023, joining NCEL in Egypt for COP27 to highlight U.S. state climate leadership, and spearheading NCEL efforts speaking out against new fossil fuel infrastructure.

Environmental Activism Award

NCEL’s final annual award, the Renny Cushing Environmental Activism Award, was named in honor of former New Hampshire Representative Robert “Renny” Cushing for his lifelong activism promoting environmental and progressive values to ensure a safer, healthier future for his state. The award is presented to members of the Caucus who persevere against the odds in the fight for the environment, equity, and justice, with a strong record of advocating for a healthier environment in their legislative work and beyond. 

Kentucky State Representative Nima Kulkarni 

Kentucky State Representative Nima Kulkarni was named a 2024 Environmental Activism Award recipient for her dedicated leadership on a range of environmental justice issues, gaining bipartisan support for environmental bills, and using innovative approaches to increase buy-in from a range of constituents on environmental matters. 

Indiana State Representative Maureen Bauer

Indiana State Representative Maureen Bauer received the 2024 Environmental Activism Award for her dedication to improving water quality and protecting communities against toxic chemicals. Her first piece of authored legislation signed into law made Indiana the first state to pass legislation implementing a program to measure the health impacts experienced by firefighters from repeated exposure to PFAS “forever chemicals.”

NCEL Executive Director Dylan McDowell introduced the 2024 NCEL Awards and was pleased to uplift the work of these seven Caucus members.

“It is an honor to take time today to recognize these seven incredible legislators and all they are doing to create a healthy environment for all,” says McDowell. “From advancing climate action to expanding outdoor access and limiting exposure to toxic chemicals, these lawmakers have time and again demonstrated their relentless commitment to creating a more sustainable future. We look forward to continuing to collaborate with them and help bring their ideas to other states across the country.” 

###

Created by and for state legislators, the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that organizes over 1,300 environmentally-committed state legislators from all 50 states and both parties. NCEL provides venues and opportunities for lawmakers to share ideas and collaborate on environmental issues.