Coors plant in Elkton among environmental award winners

Gov. Bob McDonnell announced today the winners of the 2013 Governor’s Environmental Excellence Awards, which will be presented at the Environment Virginia Symposium in Lexington.

The awards recognize the significant contributions of environmental and conservation leaders in two categories: sustainability and land conservation. They are given to businesses and industrial facilities, not-for-profit organizations and government agencies.

Speaking about the awards, Gov. McDonnell commented, “Last year I hosted a Corporate Sustainability Roundtable as part of Earth Week.  At that time I announced that this year’s awards would focus on these principles.  These award winners provide excellent examples of environmental protection efforts that benefit all Virginians. They demonstrate the spirit of environmental innovation and leadership of companies and organizations all across the Commonwealth.”

The Gold Medal winners are:

• ·         Du Pont Spruance Plant, Richmond, for its highly effective Environmental Sustainability Program, which has produced significant improvements in water conservation, waste generation and energy savings.
• ·         Joint Base Langley-Eustis for the Fort Eustis Sustainability Program, which takes a comprehensive approach to reducing environmental impact and improving natural systems on training lands as well as in residential and office areas.
• ·         Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story for its efforts to improve recycling, construct green buildings, protect natural resources, and reduce use of toxic chemicals, energy and resources.
• ·         MillerCoors Shenandoah Brewery, Elkton, for its efforts to reduce the plant’s environmental footprint. This has resulted in its becoming one of the most energy-efficient breweries in the world.
• ·         Pepsico Blue Ridge Gatorade Plant, Wytheville, for its Comprehensive Sustainability Program, beginning with the plant’s construction as one of the most energy and environmentally friendly plants of its size, and continuing with its ongoing efforts to reduce its footprint.
• ·         Piedmont Environmental Council for its Land Conservation Program, which combines public and private initiatives with creative market-based solutions to reach state and local conservation goals.
• ·         Prince William County’s Solid Waste Division for its Sustainability Program, which is anchored by the division’s environmental management system and finds success through strong management, citizen and employee support.
• ·         Virginia Port Authority for its Corporate Environment and Sustainability Program, which has resulted in its being the only ISO 14001-certified container terminal in the country. It also has produced aggressive efforts to reduce energy and water use and improve air and water quality.
• ·         Virginia Tech for its Sustainability Program, whose four major components are improving the efficiency of facilities and operations, enhancing academic programs related to sustainability, engaging the larger community, and changing campus culture and behavior to conserve energy, water and materials.

Award winners were chosen based on criteria including environmental benefit, stakeholder involvement, public outreach, transferability and innovativeness.

This year’s awards were sponsored by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Dominion and MeadWestvaco.

Additional information on the Governor’s Environmental Excellence Awards is available on the DEQ website at: www.deq.virginia.gov/Programs/PollutionPrevention/GovernorsEnvironmentalExcellenceAwards.aspx