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Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence 2014 Winners


Allegheny County


Pittsburgh Botanic Garden – Woodland Pond Restoration Project 
In the middle of the Woodlands Garden lies a pond that has been dead for decades due to acid mine drainage.  A pipe, stemming from an abandoned mine, fed ten gallons/minute of the polluted water into the pond so that it was as acidic as vinegar.  A passive treatment system was installed with a drainable limestone bed that neutralizes acidity and removes metal contaminants before clean water is released into the pond.

SWEPI LP - Shell Appalachia Site Selection and Screening Process 
Shell Appalachia operates in a populous tri-state region, that supports biologically diverse areas including wetlands, streams, riparian areas, forests and grasslands. Because of the diversity of resources, Shell Appalachia created an Environmental Impacts Assessment with a web application that is used as a tool to help reduce risks associated with field development.

Cumberland County


Cumberland County - Energy Efficiency Program 
This project implemented an energy management program in Cumberland County involving the replacement of boilers at the courthouse, old courthouse and old jail; replacement of the cooling tower at the courthouse; installation of energy efficient lights; installation of energy efficient motion sensors on vending machines; installation of low-flow faucets and toilets; replacement of hot water usage with an ozone system for laundry at the Claremont Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and county prison; and installation of an energy management system which provides remote computer access to the county's HVAC systems.

Dauphin County 


Central Dauphin School District's Energy Conservation Program 
In partnership with Cenergistic, Inc, this project has helped the district save money and reduce energy consumption, as well as reducing its carbon footprint. With this program the district has become better stewards of resources and the environment, and created a culture of energy conservation, setting an example for students. 

Phoenix Contact – SunPlug: Solar Powered Electric Vehicle Charging Station 
The off-grid, solar-powered, electrical vehicle charging station was conceived two years ago by Phoenix Contact and Elizabethtown College as a novel way to prove that electrical vehicles could be re-charged with solar power and without burden to the electrical grid. A solar canopy that is the size of a typical parking lot with 12 high-performance solar panels generates 2.7 kW and is supported with battery storage of 4 kW and a 4.2 kW off-grid inverter to charge electric vehicles.

SKELLY and LOY, Inc. - Allison Hill Automotive Brownfields Remediation Project 
The former Allison Hill Automotive site was a 6.2-acre property with multiple vacant buildings that were an eyesore to the local community, an environmental hazard, and a tax liability to the City of Harrisburg. The site had previously been an industrial and manufacturing facility since the late 1800s and contained asbestos, lead-based paint, poly chlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and miscellaneous hazardous wastes within the several abandoned buildings at the site. The restoration work included removing and disposing of hazardous wastes, abating materials containing asbestos, and demolishing the buildings.

Erie County 


Environment Erie - St. George Rain Catcher Project 
A successful partnership of non-profits, private businesses, government and students, this project helped bring the whole community together for a holistic approach on promoting green infrastructure. A rain garden was planted on the property of a local church to reduce stormwater runoff. Students from the partnering school were able to use the development and construction of the rain garden as a learning tool.

Franklin County 


PPL Renewable Energy, LLC in partnership with Borough of Chambersburg and IESI PA Blue Ridge Landfill – Blue Ridge Landfill Gas-to-Energy Plan 
This unique project consists of a 6.4 MW landfill gas-to-energy plant with a dedicated electrical interconnection to a municipal electric department. PPL uses the landfill gas to power four engine generators which are connected to Chambersburg's municipal electric department's main substation. This plant provides the borough residents and business with 15% of their annual electric needs through locally-sourced renewable power.

Lancaster County 


Armstrong World Industries, Inc. - Armstrong® Reclamation Program for Vinyl Composition Tile Flooring 
The first program of its kind to recycle installed Armstrong vinyl flooring products as well as qualifying competitive vinyl products. Under the program, vinyl flooring is recycled in a closed-loop, post-consumer stream with reclaimed material incorporated into new flooring products, diverting 2,500 tons material from landfills.

City of Lancaster – East Walnut and North Plum Street Intersection Improvement Project 
To improve stormwater management and traffic safety, this project integrates green infrastructure with enhanced pedestrian amenities and a roadway realignment. The project included a porous paver patio area; rain garden; and five porous paver, angled parking spaces in an area previously occupied by a troublesome merge lane, as well as a public art component – a cistern that collects rainwater from a local business' rooftop. Additional traffic calming and pedestrian safety has been accomplished on the three other corners of the busy intersection by the construction of vegetated curb extensions, in addition to new ADA ramps, crosswalks, sidewalk improvements, and signal upgrades. 

Lycoming County 

  
PPL Renewable Energy, LLC in partnership with Lycoming County and the Federal Bureau of Prisons - Lycoming County Landfill Gas-to-Energy Plan 
These entities worked together to develop and construct two co-located landfill gas-to-energy power plants. One plant supplies 80% of the power needs of the Federal Correctional Complex and the second plant supplies 90% of the power and thermal needs of the Lycoming County landfill complex. The project supports both the county and federal government's plans to reduce its environmental impact, improve its energy efficiency, create jobs and increase revenues.

Montgomery County 


North Penn Public School District - Energy Management Program 
This Energy Management Program combines operational changes, behavioral changes, demand response, energy efficiency savings and community engagement. The district has saved on energy expenses and created a program that educates and engages students and staff in energy conservation and efficiency. By bringing down its energy expenditures, North Penn School District is able to maximize the use of its funds and allocate as much as possible to its main mission of educating students.

Philadelphia County 


Pennsylvania Horticultural Society - Community Farm and Green Resource Center at Bartram's Garden 
In partnership with the Agatston Urban Nutrition Initiative, Bartram's Garden, and Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society created the Community Farm and Food Resource Center along the shore of the Schuylkill River in the low income neighborhood of Southwest Philadelphia. The farm and resource center includes a full-scale greenhouse, community garden spaces, an orchard of 90 fruit trees, a farmers market and an entrepreneurial jobs training and leadership development program for local high school students.

Westmoreland County 


Robindale Energy Services, Inc. - Seanor-GFCC Project 
Located within the Loyalhanna Creek Watershed, the 46.6 acre site consisted of approximately 18.6 acres of abandoned refuse piles scattered throughout the area with little to no vegetation. This project removed approximately 305,097 tons of waste coal, restored the site to approximate original contour, topsoil and re-vegetate the affected area to establish positive surface runoff, eliminating the acidic runoff to the streams and enhance the area throughout the Rails to Trail pathway.

Wyoming County 


The Procter & Gamble Paper Products Company - Mehoopany Cogen 2 
P&G Mehoopany installed a 64MW gas fired co-generator that produces electricity, steam and hot air for its operations with some excess electric for sale. The operation is completely self-sufficient, using natural gas extracted on the property to power the co-generator and approximately 20,000 homes worth of electricity normally flow from P&G for sale into the PJM grid.


Multiple Counties 


Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy, Montour County Conservation District, Northumberland County Conservation District, Tioga County Conservation District, Union County Conservation District and Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission's Division of Habitat Management - Northcentral Stream Restoration Project 
The Northcentral Stream Restoration project improved water quality on agriculturally impaired streams in DEP's northcentral region. The partners used proven in-stream stabilization structures, such as log vanes and mudsills, and agricultural best management practices, such as walkways and fencing. The group was able to implement practices with 18 landowners on 13 streams in four counties.

Pennsylvania Resources Council, Inc. - Tailgate Recycling Initiative 
With funding from the Alcoa Foundation and in collaboration with a multitude of partners, PRC designed, developed and implemented a program to collect recyclables from tailgating fans attending Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles home games. In addition to the collection effort, the council also used the program to educate the public about the benefits of recycling.

Trout Unlimited, Inc. - AMD Technical Assistance Program 
This program provides free technical services to assist Growing Greener-eligible entities in their efforts to improve water quality in AMD-impacted streams toward the ultimate goal of restoring fish and other aquatic life and whenever possible, removal of the stream or stream segment from the DEP's Impaired Waters List. 

Collier Township - Rooftop Photovoltaic Electrical Generating System Project 
When the roof membrane on the Public Works Building was being replaced, the township decided to install a rooftop photovoltaic electric generating system at the same time. This renewable energy project will reduce over one million pounds of carbon dioxide gas emissions over time. This 22kW photovoltaic system is estimated to generate a net savings of approximately $75,000 over its lifespan by selling back to the local utility company via a "grid-tied" system.