The Department of Environmental Protection invites Pennsylvania businesses, farms, government agencies, educational institutions, non-profit organizations and individuals to submit nominations for the 2016 Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence.

Nominations are due January 15.

This prestigious award honors those projects that have transformed environmental challenges into opportunities.

“We want to showcase the kinds of innovative, energy-saving and restorative projects taking place all across Pennsylvania,” DEP Secretary John Quigley said. “These projects and the people who develop them will help lead Pennsylvania into the next era of environmental protection.” 

Award-winning projects will be selected based on eight criteria: protection, partnership, public service, environmental education and outreach, pollution prevention, economic impact, innovative technology, and new this year, climate change.

“Pennsylvania's climate has been steadily warming over the past century and if it continues, such warming will have disastrous impacts to our environment and economy,” Quigley said. “We are particularly interested in projects that actively seek to limit or reduce the rate of long-term climate change through the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.”

To be eligible for consideration, projects must have been completed between August 1, 2014 and July 31, 2015.

Nominations must be submitted by email to: RA-EPgovenviroawards@pa.gov in order to be considered.

Project guidelines and nomination forms are available on DEP’s 2016 Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence webpage.

1/11/2016