news

WASHINGTON—Congressman Paul D. Tonko, Chair of the House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Environment & Climate Change and a Co-Chair of the Sustainable Energy & Environment Coalition, announced today that Kathy Hannun, Co-founder and President of Dandelion Energy, has accepted his invitation and will attend the 2020 State of the Union as his guest. Tonko participated in a ribbon cutting with Hannun earlier this year (photos) for Dandelion, a groundbreaking geothermal energy company that began at Google parent company Alphabet’s X lab before launching as an independent company in New York City in May 2017. Dandelion now operates jointly out of Upstate New York and New York City.

“Since its founding, Dandelion Energy has brought energy innovation, economic growth and job creation to our Capital Region, thanks in large part to Kathy Hannun’s vision and leadership,” Congressman Tonko said. “America’s clean energy companies are already seizing on the global climate challenge as an opportunity to restore our nation’s leadership in energy technology and innovation. I am delighted to have Kathy joining me in Washington for the President’s State of the Union Address this year and look forward to discussing how the federal government can be a stronger partner in supporting America's cutting-edge clean energy businesses.

“I am honored to be attending the State of the Union as Congressman Tonko’s guest this year and look forward to sharing the stories of Dandelion’s work, which has helped advance New York’s clean energy economy,” Hannun said. “I am proud of Dandelion’s signature achievements as a leading clean energy employer and innovator in the Capital Region and beyond. There has never been a more important moment for decision-makers and everyday citizens to come together around ideas and industries that will bring about America’s transition away from climate-damaging pollution and toward a cleaner, more sustainable economy. My thanks to Congressman Tonko for this exciting opportunity to witness the President’s 2020 State of the Union firsthand, and for his enduring commitment as a national leader on clean energy policy."

2020 marks the second year in a row that Tonko has highlighted the global climate crisis with his choice of State of the Union guest. In 2019, Tonko brought League of Conservation Voters President Gene Karpinski. Tonko recently stood with fellow Energy & Commerce chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Bobby Rush (D-IL) to unveil the first comprehensive national climate legislation in more than a decade. Tonko has also been a leading advocate for strengthening the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) for clean energy systems and has pledged to continue fighting for a long-term extension in 2020.

###