Gov. Tom Wolf and the Department of Environmental Protection have recognized PECO with the 2015 Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence for the company’s work to restore the site of a former manufactured gas plant in Norristown, PA.
“It is truly an honor to be recognized by the Commonwealth for a program that has such a far-reaching environmental impact,” said Ellen Cavanaugh, PECO vice president of Support Services. “This voluntary program solidifies the company’s role as an environmental steward and breathes new life into industrial land, paving the way for future redevelopment.”
Between 2011 and 2014, PECO restored the former Norristown MGP, located along the banks of the Schuylkill River. The restoration process included the removal of 103,000 tons of impacted soil and the treatment of more than 11 million gallons of impacted groundwater, which was treated and returned to the environment.
More than $12 million was invested in the remediation work to restore the site and all work was completed in accordance with the provisions of the Pennsylvania Land Recycling Program (Act 2).
MGPs were operated throughout the U.S. during the late 1800s and 1900s to produce gas for heating and lighting purposes. Byproducts of the gas production process, such as coal tar and cinders sometimes remained on site after the plants closed.
As part of PECO’s ongoing commitment to protect and preserve the environment, the company voluntarily restores former MGPs across its southeastern Pennsylvania service territory.
Since the early 1990s, PECO has restored 16 former MGP sites throughout the region, with the approval of the PADEP. The company plans to restore 10 remaining sites during the next few years.
The Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence recognizes companies and organizations that encourage and promote environmental stewardship and contribute to the conservation of Pennsylvania’s environment.
For more information, visit PECO’s Environment webpage.
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