Ameresco, Inc. has been chosen to receive the Climate Change Business Journal’s 2010 Business Achievement Award for Growth.

Climate Change Business Journal (CCBJ), a business research publication which provides high value strategic business intelligences to the climate change industry, recognized Ameresco with a Silver Medal for Business Growth within the low carbon power and renewable power segment. The Journal honored 32 companies for their contributions to mitigating climate change in 2010.

“We are proud to be recognized for the substantial growth that Ameresco achieved in 2010,” said David J. Anderson, Executive Vice President, Ameresco. “In a year when many businesses and governments were severely impacted by the economy, Ameresco’s budget-neutral energy efficiency solutions and renewable energy projects offered winning energy infrastructure strategies for its customers. Through the implementation of these strategies, they realize the economic benefits from infrastructure improvements without any upfront capital investment.”

Like other energy services companies, Ameresco earns a portion of its revenues through energy savings performance contracts in which a third-party lender funds the design and installation of energy efficiency equipment then gets paid based on energy cost savings, which are often guaranteed in the contract. Ameresco has been one of the leaders in expanding this model to develop renewable energy projects, where Ameresco designs, builds, owns and operates an energy asset for which it receives revenue from energy sales, including landfill gas, biogas, biomass, geothermal and photovoltaic projects.

“In this fast-emerging industry just about everyone by definition is an early mover and a risk taker and thereby deserving of recognition, but certain companies and organizations stood out in 2010,” said Grant Ferrier, president of Environmental Business International Inc. (San Diego), the publisher of Climate Change Business Journal.

The 2010 CCBJ awards were presented at a special ceremony at the Environmental Industry Summit IX in Coronado, California on March 9.

Recently, Ameresco was also recognized for its innovative approaches to energy projects by the Association of Energy Engineers New England. Ameresco’s projects were awarded in categories including: “Performance Contract of the Year” for its City of Revere project and “Renewable Energy Project of the Year” for its project with the City of Lowell.

Ameresco, Inc. , incorporated in April 2000, is a leading independent provider of comprehensive energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions for facilities throughout North America. Ameresco’s solutions include upgrades to a facility’s energy infrastructure, and the development, construction, and operation of renewable energy plants. With corporate headquarters located in Framingham, Ameresco has 55 offices in 29 states and four Canadian provinces. For additional information, visit www.ameresco.com

-- From the business wire