Kinder Morgan Co-founder and Executive Chairman Richard Kinder was named to Alerian’s Ammy Hall of Fame at the 2nd annual Ammy Awards, held March 6 at Houston’s Prohibition Theater. In his acceptance remarks, Kinder encouraged the audience to “let the public know the value” of the nation’s midstream infrastructure and the energy industry.

Richard Kinder “Renewables have a place but they can’t do it all,” Kinder added, pointing out the U.S. reduced air emissions between 1993 and 2015 even as the nation’s economy grew substantially because of the growing use of natural gas.

In all, Alerian announced 20 winners and eight Hall of Fame inductees at the event, formally the 2017 Alerian MLP Awards. Gabriel Hammond, a co-founder of Alerian and now CEO of Broad Green Pictures, a Los Angeles-based movie studio, hosted the program.

“We take for granted today that energy infrastructure is its own asset class, both from an operational and investment perspective,” said Kenny Feng, Alerian president and CEO, noting the growth in the importance of the midstream as a standalone segment in the energy chain.

Winners by category were:

Hall of Fame Inductees:
Chairman, President or CEO
Richard Kinder, Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP and Kinder Morgan Inc.

Chief Financial Officer
Mark Leland, GulfTerra Energy Partners

Investor Relations
Patrick Diamond, Plains All American Pipeline

Research and Analysis
David LaBonte, Salomon Smith Barney/ Wells Fargo

Investment Banking
Michael Cannon, Bank of America Merrill Lynch

Legal Counsel
Barry Miller, Vinson & Elkins

Public Accounting
Rob Baldwin, PwC

Asset Management
Dave Schulte, Tortoise Capital Advisors

Ammy Award Winners:

MLP Merger of the Year
Enbridge and Spectra Energy

MLP Project of the Year
Cheniere Energy Partners, Sabine Pass Train 1

MLP Acquisition of the Year
Plains All American Pipeline general partnership from Plains GP Holdings LP

Most Innovative MLP
Tallgrass Energy Partners

Best MLP Investor Relations Team
Enterprise Products Partners

Most Informative Analyst Day/Facility Tour
Enterprise Products Partners

Best MLP Company Website
Spectra Energy Partners

IPO of the Year
Noble Midstream Partners

Highest MLP Total Return
Hi-Crush Partners

Highest MLP Risk-Adjusted Return
CONE Midstream Partners

Best MLP Sell-Side Macro Coverage
Michael Blum, Wells Fargo

Best MLP Research Report Headline
Chris Sighinolfi, Jefferies

MLP Book-Runner of the Year
Barclays Capital

MLP Underwriter of the Year
Barclays Capital

MLP Legal Counsel of the Year
Vinson & Elkins

MLP Accountant of the Year
Ernst & Young

MLP Closed-End Fund of the Year
Nuveen All Cap Energy MLP Opportunities Fund

MLP Mutual Fund of the Year
Prudential Jennison MLP Fund

Best MLP At-The-Market Offering Execution
Citigroup

Best MLP Bank Conference
Citi One-On-One MLP/Midstream Infrastructure Conference

Outstanding MLP Reporting
Liam Denning, Bloomberg

Dallas-based Alerian provides information and analysis on MLPs and energy infrastructure. Over $17 billion is directly tied to the Alerian Index Series through exchange-traded funds and notes, separately managed accounts, and structured products.