Susan Auslander, Meadow Ridge Solar Committee Honored by CT Green Bank

Hartford, CT (March 20, 2025) – The Connecticut Green Bank was honored to present its President’s Award to Susan Auslander of Meadow Ridge at their 10th annual awards celebration. Susan led the Solar Committee at the senior living facility owned by Redding Life Care and was instrumental in their efforts to bring a solar photovoltaic system online. The system will help reduce the facility’s energy costs by more than $7 million over the life of the system while offsetting more than 600 metric tons of carbon from the atmosphere each year. Also recognized were members of the Solar Committee Carol Morgan, Peggy Southard, and Doug Dawson.

“It is with great excitement that I can recognize Susan Auslander with the President’s Award for 2024,” said Bryan Garcia, President and CEO of the Connecticut Green Bank. “Susan’s leadership is a great example of the Green Bank’s vision for a planet protected by the love of humanity.”

“Our Meadow Ridge solar project has been a fun learning experience for my fellow residents and me. Even into our 90s we can continue to learn and innovate,” said Susan Auslander, chair MR Residents' Solar Committee and Secretary, Residents Association Board. “May the Green Bank’s remarkable achievements over a 10-year period continue to inspire more solar projects around our Nutmeg State.”

State Sen. Ceci Maher (D-26) and State Rep. Anne Hughes (D-135) also honored Susan and her fellow Solar Committee members for their efforts.

“Susan Auslander's hard work and perseverance resulted in millions of dollars of energy cost and emissions savings. Susan's impact on Meadow Ridge, both from the solar success side and a modeling of community advocacy and leadership, is evidence that all of us can take action and enact change,” said Sen. Maher. “It’s an incredible accomplishment. On behalf of the state legislature, I'd like to thank her for her leadership and achievement as she proudly accepts this award.”

“I am truly humbled to represent the determination of this community, led by resident Susan Auslander and her allies at Meadow Ridge, and to participate in meaningful policymaking at the state level to address the climate crisis and renewable energy transition,” said Rep. Anne Hughes. “We got to partner with the Green Bank and demonstrate the possibilities and opportunities of collaboration, funding resources and the will to decarbonize and save energy costs for the community. This is how good government works for the community.”

“Every step of this process—from our first discussions with the Solar Committee to flipping the switch in December—has been collaborative. We at Meadow Ridge are grateful for the vision and tenacity of Susan and the Solar Committee, and for the essential role the Connecticut Green Bank played in bringing this project to life,” said Meadow Ridge Chief Operating Officer Brett Mehlman.

About the Connecticut Green Bank

The Connecticut Green Bank was established by the Connecticut General Assembly in 2011 as the nation’s first state-level green bank and has since supported the creation of nearly 30,000 green jobs in the state, while reducing the energy cost burden on over 71,000 families, businesses, and nonprofits. The Green Bank’s vision is a planet protected by the love of humanity and its mission is to confront climate change by increasing and accelerating investment into Connecticut’s green economy to create more resilient, healthier, and equitable communities. This is accomplished by leveraging limited public resources to scale-up and mobilize private capital investment into Connecticut. In 2017, the Connecticut Green Bank received the Innovations in American Government Award from the Harvard Kennedy School Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation for their “Sparking the Green Bank Movement” entry. In 2021, the Green Bank’s model was expanded to include new areas of environmental infrastructure, related to climate adaptation and resiliency, land conservation, parks and recreation, agriculture, water, waste and recycling, and environmental markets, including carbon offsets and ecosystem services. To date, the Green Bank has mobilized nearly $3 billion into the State’s green economy. This has reduced the energy costs for thousands of families and businesses, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change and worsen public health.