Fourteen Environmental Stewardship Projects Earn Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence

HARRISBURG, Pa., March 21, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Tom Wolf today announced that 17 organizations involved in 14 projects from across the commonwealth will receive the prestigious Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence. These award winners represent the best in using innovation, collaboration, and public service to improve and protect Pennsylvania's environment.

"Pennsylvania is blessed with an abundance of natural beauty," said Governor Tom Wolf. "The award winners prove that Pennsylvania is also blessed with excellent environmental stewards. I applaud every winning and nominated organization for their commitment to the commonwealth and our environment."

Pennsylvania businesses, schools, government agencies, trade or non-profit organizations, or agribusinesses that have completed projects to promote environmental stewardship and economic development were eligible to apply for the award. The winners were selected by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).

"DEP received dozens of entries from projects using innovative approaches to solve Pennsylvania's environmental concerns," said DEP Secretary John Quigley. "The 14 exemplary projects awarded today support DEP's mission of protecting Pennsylvania's land, air, water, and public health."

The Pennsylvania Environmental Council and DEP will host a dinner to honor the award winners on April 19 at the Harrisburg Hilton. Secretary Quigley will deliver the keynote address.

To learn more about the Governor's Awards for Environmental Excellence, click here or visit the Pennsylvania Environmental Council's website.

MEDIA CONTACT: Brandon Cwalina, 717-787-1323

EDITOR'S NOTE: The winning organizations and their projects are listed below, by project county:

Allegheny

• Allegheny Land Trust – Community Awakening of Dead Man's Hollow: The Allegheny Land Trust engaged residents, municipalities, businesses, and nonprofits to complete a comprehensive land management plan for the historic 450-acre property at Dead Man's Hollow, the largest privately protected conservation area in the county.
• Borough of Etna – Etna Green Streetscape Phase 1: Etna's Green Streetscape project has installed 12 new trees, 2,300 cubic feet of underground storage, 2,900 square feet of pervious pavers, and downspout connections – all of which are storm water management best practices that improve local water quality.
• Green Building Alliance – Pittsburgh 2030 District: The Green Building Alliance's Pittsburgh 2030 District is a voluntary, locally driven initiative focused on high-performance buildings to balance economic prosperity and environmental concerns.

Dauphin

• Chesapeake Bay Foundation – Riparian Forested Buffer Stewardship: The Chesapeake Bay Foundation's Riparian Forested Buffer project provided tens of thousands of trees to landowners to foster the creation of riparian buffers, which will improve the water quality of the Susquehanna Watershed.
• Phoenix Contact Services, Inc. – Phoenix Contact-Employee/Visitor Electric Vehicle Charging Stations: Phoenix Contact dedicated eight parking spaces to electric vehicle charging stations. Those stations are available, for free, to employees and to the public to charge electric and hybrid vehicles, which reduce fossil fuel usage.

Delaware

• Pennsylvania Resources Council & Eastern Delaware County Stormwater Collaborative – Darby Cobbs Stormwater Initiative: Getting to the New Normal: The Pennsylvania Resources Council and the Eastern Delaware Stormwater Collaborative partnered to educate the residents of the Darby and Cobbs creeks watersheds on rain gardens and the best practices for stormwater management.

Franklin

• Pennsylvania State University Department of Animal Science & Franklin County Conservation – 2015 North American Manure Expo: The North American Manure Expo at Chambersburg attracted livestock producers and manure handlers from the state, mid-Atlantic region, and beyond to meet with national experts on manure nutrient issues.

Lycoming

• Jersey Shore Area High School – Jersey Shore Outdoor Club: The volunteers of the Jersey Shore Outdoor Club removed a damaged flood culvert on a tributary of Pine Creek, cleaned up the Tomb Flats Picnic and Campground area, and restored 28 miles the Tiadaghton Hiking Trail.

Montgomery

• SBM Site Services (in collaboration with Jones Lange LaSalle & Sustainable Waste Solutions) – Food Waste Composting Program Re-engineering: SBM Site Services re-engineered waste composting programs at two locations in order to keep 70.76 tons of food waste out of landfills.

Montour

• Geisinger Medical Center – Janet Weis Children's Hospital Solar Panel Project: As part of its commitment to a sustainable future, Geisinger installed 144 solar panels on the roof of the Janet Weis Children's Hospital to serve as an educational tool on the environmental benefits of solar energy while creating a cleaner environment.

Philadelphia

• Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) – Griscom Wayside Energy Storage System: SEPTA's Griscom Wayside Energy Storage System, located on SEPTA's most heavily traveled route, the Market-Frankford Line, recycled a train's braking energy to reduce electricity consumption and to generate revenue.

Wayne

• Sustainable Energy Education and Development Support (SEEDS) of Northeastern PA – SEED's Free Energy Assessment Program (5^th Season): SEEDS has offered free, customized energy assessments of a home's energy efficiencies to the residents of Wayne and Pike counties since 2010. To date, SEEDS has assessed 200 buildings and has provided summer jobs for more than 15 area high school students.

Multiple Counties

• Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC) – Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission Regional Traffic Signal Program Cycle 2: SPC's Regional Traffic Signal Program assisted 28 municipalities in seven counties with optimizing traffic lights at 207 intersections in the region, demonstrating a cost-effective way to reduce fuel consumption and emissions while improving the safety of the region's roadways.

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection

Related Links

http://www.depweb.state.pa.us