This year’s honorees — representing all areas of Pennsylvania — depict the best in using innovation, collaboration, and public service to protect the Commonwealth’s environment. The awards provide statewide recognition to businesses and organizations involved in a cross-section of environmental initiatives in stormwater management, land conservation, energy efficiency, and much more.
“On behalf of Governor Wolf, I’d like to congratulate all of this evening’s award recipients and thank you all for your great work,” said DEP Secretary John Quigley. “A special thank you to PEC for their continuing, valued partnership.
“Tonight’s awardees run the gamut of environmental excellence,” he added. “The 13 exemplary projects and 17 organizations support DEP’s mission of protecting Pennsylvania’s land, air, water, and public health. We’re honoring an inspiring breadth of groups - governmental entities and communities, non-profits, private businesses, universities, county conservation districts, schools, clubs, civic partnerships, and hospitals. A real cross section of Pennsylvania.”
Click Here for a copy of his complete remarks.
For her part, DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn congratulated the winners and announced the state’s Outdoor Recreation Plan won a national recognition, noting the Plan sets a new goal for her agency-- to put a trail within 15 minutes of every Pennsylvanian.
This goal echoes Dr. Maurice Goddard, the first Secretary of the Department of Environmental Resources, when he said he would put a State Park within 25 minutes of every state resident, a goal he achieved.
The winners of this year’s award are (listed by county)--
-- Allegheny County
-- 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 stormwater management best practices that improve local water quality.
-- Pittsburgh’s 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. Click Here for more details.
-- Dauphin County
-- Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA – 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 County
-- PA Resources Council & Eastern Delaware County Stormwater Collaborative – Darby Cobbs Stormwater Initiative: Getting to the New Normal: The PA 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 County
-- 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 County
-- Jersey Shore Area High School – Jersey Shore Outdoor Club: The volunteers of the Jersey Shore Area High School 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 County
— 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 County
-- 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 County
— Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority – 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 County
-- Sustainable Energy Education and Development Support (SEEDS) of Northeastern PA – SEED’s Free Energy Assessment Program (5th Season): SEEDS Program 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 – Regional Traffic Signal Program Cycle 2: The Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission’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.
The dinner was held at the Harrisburg Hilton with WGAL Channel 8 News Anchor Janelle Stelson as the Program Emcee. Click Here to watch the WGAL story about the event.
For more information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the PA Environmental Council website, visit the PEC Blog, follow PEC on Twitter or Like PEC on Facebook. Click Here to receive regular updates from PEC.
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