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Catherine Luthin (born May 27th, 1956) is one of the leading female entrepreneurs and executives in the renewable energy field. She is a leading figure in natural energy consulting in New York and has worked on the energy initiative task forces for two New York City mayors, Mayor Bloomberg and Mayor de Blasio's energy initiative task forces. In 1994, Luthin opened her own energy consulting firm, Luthin Associates, aimed at finding the most cost-efficient, progressive and sustainable solutions to reduce the price and consumption of energy for large, public industries (Luthin Associates, Inc.).

In 2017, Catherine Luthin was awarded the Women in Sustainability Leadership Award (WSLA) for her innovative work within the renewable energy sector. The same year, she was also honored as one of New Jersey’s top female CEO’s (CWEEL) and continues to distinguish herself as a pioneer amongst women in the field of clean and renewable energy.

Early Life and Schooling

Catherine Luthin attended Clayton High School in Clayton, New Jersey from 1970 to 1974. After graduating high school, Luthin attended Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus in Madison, New Jersey. There, she received a Bachelor of Science in Marketing in 1979. Subsequently, Luthin went on to continue her studies at Fairleigh Dickinson, pursuing a master’s Degree in business administration, Marketing that she completed in 1982 (LinkedIn).

Early Career

In 1988, Luthin began her career in the public administration sector as a Senior Financial Analyst for the Human Resource Administration of New York City in the Office of Financial Management (NYC). As a senior financial analyst, Luthin worked at the local, state, and federal level in order to maintain fiscal compliance and generate revenue for the city.

Working her way towards the energy sector, Catherine Luthin assumed the occupation of Program Manager in the Office of Energy Conservation for the City of New York in 1992. From 1992-1994, Luthin worked to manage the energy accounts of NYC and aimed towards creating successful energy initiatives to reduce the massive carbon footprint of the country’s largest city (NYC). During her short stint as a program manager, Luthin soon came to the conclusion and proceeded to vocalize that “there was a void in the area of assisting the institutional sector in managing their energy usage” (Luthin Associates, Inc.). This realization prompted Luthin to leave her role in the Office of Energy Management. In 1994, she founded Luthin Associates to provide energy management consulting services.

Luthin Associates

Luthin Associates, founded in January of 1994, is the brainchild of Catherine Luthin, who, during her time as a public servant in the Office of Energy Management in New York City, found a need for energy management consulting in the institutional fields (i.e., hospitals, universities, public schools, etc.). The foundation of Luthin’s business model lies in her testimony, that, “contracting for competitive energy can significantly lower energy costs and minimize price risk when compared with accepting the local utility’s business as usual delivery of energy supplies” (Luthin Associates, Inc.). Luthin’s first major contract was with Columbia University in New York City, New York. The Columbia University Medical Center contacted Luthin Associates with the hope of implementing a sustainable energy plan for their Medical Center. The plan would work to reduce their carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions by 30% in 2017 (Energize NY).

In 2007, Luthin Associates was chosen by the New York State Energy and Research Development Authority as one of the firms to aid organizations in New York in purchasing and supply the most efficient (and cost-effective) energy that they possibly could. Working as a consultant for the participating organizations, Luthin Associates and its partner businesses were allocated up to $100,000 from the New York State Energy and Research Development Authority in order to adequately fund a study to find the most sustainable, economical energy suppliers in the New York area, all while reducing energy consumption (NYSERDA).

In 2015, following her successful studies in aiding NYSERDA partners in reducing energy consumption and its’ application, Luthin, with Luthin Associates, was asked to assist the New York State Energy and Research Development Authority in implementing the REV Campus Challenge. The REV Campus Challenge program was developed by current New York State Governor, Andrew M. Cuomo (D), to support state universities and colleges in their efforts to assist in New York and Cuomo’s goals of achieving clean energy and sustainability on campuses state-wide. In 2015, with $5 million dollars of funding going towards creating a greener New York, Cuomo and NYSERDA brought Luthin Associates on board to assist in creating the REV guidelines and providing resources and guidance necessary to the college and university campuses taking part in the challenge (REV).

Today, Luthin Associates operates as one of the leading energy management consulting firms in the tristate area, as well as nationally. Luthin Associates has worked with a multitude of clients including Barnard College, Fordham University, Museum of Modern Art, New York University, and Northwestern University. To date, Luthin Associates has saved their clients a combined total of over $360 million dollars (Luthin Associates, Inc.).

New York Energy Buyers Forum

From 1997 until December of 2001, Catherine Luthin served as the Executive Director for the New York Energy Buyers Forum. On its website, the Energy Forum states that its’ aim is to, “increase public understanding of significant regional, national and global energy issues by sponsoring seminars, meetings, publications and conferences which foster an open exchange of information, ideas and policy positions” (NYEBF). As Executive Director, Luthin worked by representing the major public industries to the city commission as they attempted to deregulate their centralized energy consumption.

The New York Energy Buyers Forum gathers energy industry workers, scholars, researchers, and government officials alike to participate in a round-table discussion regarding ideas, policies, and issues pertaining to the energy sector. In her Executive Director role, Luthin again took it upon herself to raise awareness to the issue of cost-effective energy and the future of New York City (NYEBF). By leading facilitated educational seminars, focused on informing and insinuating conversation among the public and scholars alike, Luthin and the rest of the Board of Directors of the New York Energy Buyers Forum worked towards making New York the most aware and progressive state in terms of energy sourcing locally, regionally, and nationwide.

Consumer Power Advocates

Following her departure from her role as the Executive Director at the New York Energy Buyers Forum, Luthin founded the Consumer Power Advocates, officially established in 2002. Simultaneously assuming the position of Executive Director at its’ inception, Luthin created CPA to consolidate Luthin Associates representation of various not-for-profit organizations in the New York City region, including the Public Service Commission and New York Independent System Operator (Luthin Associates, Inc.). Focusing on energy-related regulations, policies, and proceedings for its clients, Consumer Power Advocates aims to reduce the cost of energy for the not-for-profit institutions via innovative thinking and creative problem-solving (Cogeneration and Competitive Power Journal).

In order to qualify to become a member of the CPA, Luthin restricted access to hospitals, universities, medical centers, and cultural institutions. Since 2002, Consumer Power Advocates has saved its clients over $91 million dollars, and accomplished major feats, including a gas energy initiative with Con Edison (Luthin Associates, Inc.).

On its’ website, Luthin Associates states that, “CPA’s mission is to lower energy costs for its members through representation in energy-related regulatory and legislative proceedings” (Luthin Associates, Inc.).

New York City Energy Policy Task Force

In 2003, the then mayor of New York City, Michael R. Bloomberg (D), enacted the New York City Energy Policy Task Force. Members of the task force, comprised of leading energy experts in every sector, were chosen to help accomplish the three main goals of the initiative, outlined in Bloomberg’s Roadmap as being:

1) To assess the current state of the City’s energy resources, with a primary focus on electricity;

2) To project the energy needs of the City through 2008;

3) To develop specific and achievable recommendations for the policies, practices, and actions needed to secure the City’s energy future (NYCEP).

Catherine Luthin was chosen by Mayor Bloomberg to represent the Consumer Power Advocates on the task force. Ultimately, Bloomberg’s hope for the task force was to devise a way to find 2,600 megawatts of new energy resources by 2008, while maintaining economic growth and keeping in mind the environmental concerns that came with providing electricity to the largest city in America (NYC).

Part of Mayor Bloomberg’s Energy Policy Task Force included expanding the Summer Energy Program to work with New York-based energy customer groups, including Luthin’s Consumer Power Advocates (NYC).

Mayor de Blasio’s 80x50 Task Force

In 2014, the mayor of New York City, Bill de Blasio (D), announced New York City’s initiative towards reducing greenhouse gas emission 80% by 2050 (thus, 80x50). The OneNYC initiative looks at “four major sources of carbon emissions: energy, building fuel, transportation, and waste emissions” (NYCRoadmap), to cut down upon via renewable energy sources and initiatives. In order to aid the planning and execution stage of 80x50, Mayor de Blasio comprised a team of energy experts, which included Catherine Luthin.

A pioneer in the area of energy management and reducing carbon emissions, Luthin’s addition to Mayor de Blasio’s innovative task force set the stage for women in energy nationwide. With her expertise in the field, Luthin has already proven to be an asset towards making a more sustainable New York City. Further, multiple institutions that partner with Luthin Associates for energy management and consulting, including New York University, Columbia University, and Fordham University have all pledged to join 80x50 to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by the year 2030 (Energize NYC).

Council on Women in Energy and Environmental Leadership

In 2010, Luthin became the President for the Council on Women in Energy and Environmental Leadership (CWEEL). The CWEEL is a division of the Association of Energy Engineers that works to support and promote women in the energy field through fostering career-building relationships and opportunities for females, young and old alike. Within the Council on Women in Energy and Environmental Leadership, Luthin heads the Energy Policy Committee. The committee’s main focus, stated on their website, is aimed at “promoting energy efficiency and sustainability practices” (CWEEL). With her immense presence in the area of sustainable energy throughout the tristate area and her prominent role within the Council on Women in Energy and Environmental Leadership, Luthin is seen as the face of female encouragement, empowerment, and inspiration for the rising generation of STEM females.

Luthin Associates is a Women Business Enterprise, certified by a variety of organizations, including the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council. Additionally, Luthin is also an advocate for the Minority Women in Business enterprise (MWBE). A staunch proponent for both female empowerment and minority representation in the energy field, business sector and beyond, Luthin has employed, on average, a 50% female-occupied company at Luthin Associates (Luthin Associates, Inc.). On the Luthin Associates website, Luthin goes on to preach that, “the power of women wanting to make such an impact is something to be celebrated and we are honored to have the opportunity to share these accomplishments” (Luthin Associates, Inc.).

Additional Positions Held

Implementation Contractor for NYSERDA’s Focus on Healthcare (2009-2012)
Implementation Contractor for NYSERDA’s Commercial and Industrial Buildings Outreach (2013-2015)
Independent Contractor for NYSERDA’s Commercial Team (2015-present)

Published Work

Basics for contracting competitive energy purchases (1997)
Managing facility energy needs in a competitive world (1999)
Optimizing chiller water systems (2009)
Finding the right energy consultant is no easy task (2009)
Power factor rising as utilities look to boost efficiency, lower costs (2010)
Don’t take a gamble; learn how to win at energy roulette (2010)
Put a little Darwin into your chiller planets (2011)

Awards and Honors

AEE New York Energy Service Professional of the Year Award (2002)
Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) International Energy Service Professional of the Year Award (2004)
Top Woman in Commercial Real Estate Award (2014)
Top 25 Leading Woman Entrepreneur of New Jersey Award (2015)
New Jersey SmartCEO's Brava Award: Honoring top female CEOs (2017)

In 2017, Catherine Luthin was selected as one of ten women to receive the 2017 Women in Sustainability Leadership Award (NESEA). Luthin, selected on the premise of her three decades of groundbreaking work in the energy field, beginning her own business, aiding New York City with her work on various sustainability task forces, and her leadership in mentoring other woman in the field, stated in her acceptance speech, “my position as a female entrepreneur has taught me the importance of sharing my knowledge with others… I feel it is important to offer the same mentorship opportunities I was fortunate enough to have to other women in this industry to help build a sense of community” (PR Newswire).

References

Catherine Luthin (1998). Contracting for Competitive Energy Purchases. Cogeneration and Competitive Power Journal, 13:1, 6-14
(CWEEL) http://www.cweel.org/
(Energize NY)http://commercial.energizeny.org/organizations/detail/luthin-associates-inc
(LinkedIn) https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherine-luthin-734a959/
(Luthin Associates, Inc.) http://www.luthin.com/
(NESEA) https://nesea.org/user/6550/presenter
(NYC) https://www1.nyc.gov/office-of-the-mayor/news/215-18/onenyc-mayor-significant-progress-making-buildings-more-energy-efficient
(NYCEP) http://www.nyc.gov/html/om/pdf/energy_task_force.pdf
(NYCRoadmap) https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/sustainability/downloads/pdf/publications/New%20York%20City's%20Roadmap%20to%2080%20x%2050.pdf
(NYEBF) https://www.nyenergyforum.org/about
(NYSERDA) https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/-/media/Secure%20Media/Partners/.../efp-brochure.pdf
(PR Newswire) http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/catherine-luthin-recognized-as-winner-of-the-2017-women-in-sustainability-leadership-awards-wsla-300555583.html
(REV) https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/All-Programs/Programs/REV-Campus-Challenge/About