Region 1: EPA New England
2009 Environmental Merit Award Recipients
- Lifetime Achievement
- Individual
- Environmental, Community, Academia, & Non-profit Organizations
- Governmental
- Business, Industry, & Professional Organizations
- Environmental Leaders of the Future
Lifetime Achievement
H. Meade Cadot
Dr. H. Meade Cadot dedicated a career of 38 years to the Harris Center for Conservation Education in Hancock, NH. During his years there, he built the kind of exemplary land trust that blends land protection with education and stewardship. Ahead of his time, Meade had a vision in the 1970s of a contiguous protected greenway. He understood that protecting habitats is essential for preserving biodiversity. When Meade began at the Harris Center, it oversaw100 acres of protected land. Through partnerships Meade increased this to more than 12,000 acres, shaping and influencing the quality of life in the Monadnock region for the present, for the future, for people and for wildlife. He led people into the woods and wilderness of southern New Hampshire, firm in his belief that those who experience nature are more interested in protecting it. Whether leading tracking trips or heading a team for the Christmas Bird Count, Meade has opened the doors of the natural world to a generation of people. His center has served more than 4,000 students in 25 regional schools. As he retires from the Harris Center, Meade is being recognized for his life commitment to protecting land for wildlife and connecting people to this land.
David S. Chase (posthumous)
David Chase, who died in November, is being recognized for the extraordinary work he did for the NH Radon Program over 17 years working for the NH Department of Environmental Services (NHDES). Under Dave's tenure, he brought the program up to EPA and state standards and received national recognition for his work. His expertise allowed him to consult with several national and international organizations, including the World Health Organization. During his tenure in New Hampshire, Dave collected more than 23,000 test results from homes in the annual radon survey. This let him map radon occurrence across the state and made the state program one of the country's leading authorities on the mapping of radon occurrence. It let scientists analyze radon occurrence in the state in relation to geology and home construction. From the time he began as an emergency response planner with the state Bureau of Radiological Health in 1991 through 2008, when he was running the Radon Program, Dave was passionate about his work, and cared deeply about his colleagues and the world around him.
Kenan R. Foley
Kenan Foley, a resident of Milton, worked for the state of Massachusetts for more than 35 years. In his role as deputy director of the division of State Parks and Recreation, he presided over the ninth largest state park system in the country, overseeing such sites as Walden Pond and Pilgrim Memorial State Park, home of Plymouth Rock. Throughout, he maintained a vision of sustainable stewardship of the parks, introducing composting toilets, electric vehicles and smart buildings to the park system. He was also involved in responding to such challenges as the Asian Longhorn Beetle infestation, beach erosion and damage from ice storms, hurricanes and other weather events. Kenan understood the need for educating future park stewards and helped create the annual State Park Leadership School, which gives participants a certificate for park management. Outside state service, Kenan also served the environment as a member of the U.S. Coast Guard from 1974 to 2004, retiring as master chief. His list of duties included oil spill coordination and marine facility inspection.
Carol R. Foss
During three decades working at NH Audubon, Carol Foss was a pioneer in wildlife protection. Beginning with her master's thesis on the impacts of human disturbance on owls, Carol has been a leader in wildlife research and conservation. In the 1980s her theory that tree-climbing mammals might be responsible for the loss of osprey eggs and young led her to install metal guards at the base of nest trees. Since then, nests with guards have produced twice as many young and the technique has been applied to eagle nests as well. Throughout her career, Carol's commitment to science brought people together. She helped develop the state's Threatened and Endangered Species list in the 1970s and the NH Fish and Game Department's Non-game Program in the 1980s. Through her work as a trusted broker among parties with conflicting views, Carol was able to achieve land protections, including the Wilcox Point Wildlife Management Area, a bald eagle winter roosting area, and the Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge. At the Audubon, where Carol has served in many capacities, she has been a mentor to colleagues and aspiring biologists. She has repeatedly proved herself a catalyst for action on conservation issues.
Owen Grumbling
Owen Grumbling has a passion for conservation that has come through during his years of work for the town. He has chaired the town of Wells Conservation Commission since 1982, and has inspired and educated countless students and community members so that they appreciate and work to protect their surroundings. Owen created the town conservation committee to champion creation of the Wells Estuarine Research Reserve at Laudholm Farm to protect the coastal habitat. Under his leadership, the town created a land bank for land conservation and yearly set aside funds to buy undeveloped property. The town also started getting gifts of land from families who wanted to preserve the town's rural character. Owen wrote a town ordinance governing the definition and use of town conservation lands and giving citizens authority over this land. Owen strongly believes land conservation is most effective when people in a town take responsibility for their own living space. Today, the town has two designated Wildlife Commons – large shared spaces – each about 600 acres. The town's Land Bank has grown to nearly a million dollars. In addition to this land conservation work, Owen served for 12 years on the board of the National Resources Council of Maine, an environmental advocacy group. For more than 30 years he has taught university students the value of conservation. His anthology of nature writing from 1990 remains in print today. Throughout Maine he is highly regarded and admired for his long-standing efforts to promote conservation.
James R. Milkey
Assistant Attorney General James Milkey was recently nominated to be a judge on the Massachusetts Appeals Court. He also was nominated by his wife for another honor: this merit award "for his work over the last 25 years in environmental law." James, who headed the AG's environmental protection division, is best known for a few specific cases and EPA agrees his work deserves this lifetime achievement honor. Most notably, in 2007, Jim won a case challenging the federal government's refusal to regulate emissions of greenhouse gases. EPA has since reversed its position and embraced the court's ruling. In 1990, Jim also convinced the state supreme court that Proposition 2-1/2 did not excuse municipalities from complying with environmental standards. And in 1994, Jim convinced the First Circuit Court of Appeals to break with the New York court and allow Massachusetts to adopt "the California Motor vehicles emissions standard." Most importantly, perhaps, Jim built the Environmental Protection Division of the Mass. Office of the Attorney General into one of the premier environmental protection organizations in the country.
Robert Paquin
A leader in protecting Vermont's environment since 1977, Robert Paquin has been Senator Leahy's "go-to" guy on environmental issues for more than three decades. In this role, he has shaped environmental policy and brought many parties together for the good of his state's environment. Bob helped write legislation to form the Lake Champlain Management Conference. This legislation, which brought together government, university and local partners, was key to the growth of the Lake Champlain Basin Program. In addition, Bob's support for farmers was central to farm legislation he drafted, always keeping in mind a balance of politics, policy, finances and the environment. He has also been a champion of environmental education for youth, and hired young interns in his office to give them experience with environmental issues. A great problem-solver with great people skills, Bob reaches out to make sure whatever issue he is involved in has a successful outcome.
Pamela P. Resor
After 18 years in the Massachusetts legislature and 30 years of dedication to environmental protection, Pamela Resor recently retired as a state senator and chair of the Senate Committee on the Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture. Her commitment to strong environmental laws has earned her this recognition. Pamela played an active role in her town of Acton when W.R. Grace was linked in 1978 to pollution in the town's water supply. The town sought her help to address the problem, and after serving on the board of health she became a selectman in 1981 and continued to work on the water supply crisis. She served as director of the Mass. Association of Conservation Commissions before setting her sights on a legislative position. Her legislative record included restructuring the state hazardous waste cleanup law and leading the fight for Brownfields legislation to ease redevelopment of urban waste sites. She was also instrumental in legislation protecting rivers, and providing open space, affordable housing and historic preservation. She has been a tireless advocate for the state park system, protection of local conservation land and the budgets of state environmental agencies. Most recently, she was chief sponsor of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative legislation. Pamela leaves a rich legacy of environmental protection in Massachusetts.
Mark H. Robinson
As executive director of a coalition of land trusts on Cape Cod, Mark H. Robinson has had a long-running commitment to the environment. In his role at the Compact of Cape Cod Conservation Trusts, where he has worked since it was founded in1986, he has carried out significant land conservation projects throughout Barnstable County. During this time, the compact has provided technical help to 24 member land trusts and watershed associations representing 10,000 members in 15 towns. With limited dollars and high real estate values, Mark has designed projects that helped trusts prioritize land acquisitions and make the best land conservation decisions. For instance, he initiated a project that created maps identifying the locations of the most critical habitat and another project that evaluated the most critical lands around the Cape's 400 freshwater ponds. His work to educate landowners and raise funds included more than 100 presentations at conferences, town meetings and in living rooms. The compact has also run a loan fund to provide land trusts with capital. So far it has given 29 loans for a total of $2.1 million to leverage protection of more than 345 acres valued at $10 million. According to the Harwich Conservation Trust, Mark has dedicated his life to preserving land, which protects the natural resources that define the very essence of Cape Cod.
Michael W. Shannon, M.D. (posthumous)
Dr. Michael Shannon, a leader in the field of pediatric environmental health, has been called the world's pre-eminent pediatric toxicologist. Loved and admired at Children's Hospital, Shannon reduced the risks of environmental hazards and protected millions of children worldwide through his work on lead poisoning, drug abuse and clinical pharmacology. Also known as the "dancing doctor" for his talent in modern dance, Michael devoted himself to protecting children worldwide. He was a partner to many programs in EPA and other federal agencies, offering medical expertise, technical skills, vision and compassion. Among the roles he served were: chief and chair of emergency medicine at Children's Hospital, member of the Center for Disease Control workgroup for childhood lead poisoning, chief of the Center for Preparedness at Children's Hospital and the first African American full professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School. He also made contributions through his teaching and publications as well as his devoted work with community non-profits. Michael was a pioneer in children's health and helped establish children's environmental health as a clinical specialty. His leadership and vision led to creation of the model Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit at Children's Hospital. Michael, who appeared in Black Nativity and Urban Nutcracker, died March 10 after a trip to tango with his wife in Argentina.
Robert W. Varney
As the longest-serving regional administrator and the top environmental official in New England, Mr. Varney was responsible for taking on high profile initiatives associated with climate change, energy efficiency and renewables, homeland security and preparedness, clean air and safe drinking water, Superfund and Brownfields cleanup and redevelopment, environmental justice and healthy communities, and the restoration of rivers, lakes, and coastal areas. Bob is nationally recognized for instituting many innovative approaches and policy initiatives that have served as national models. Previously, Mr. Varney was one of the nation's longest-serving state environmental commissioners. As Commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES), he was appointed by three governors of both political parties. He also served as Director of the New Hampshire Office of State Planning, Executive Director of the Nashua Regional Planning Commission, and Executive Director of the Upper Valley-Lake Sunapee Council. In addition, Mr. Varney has chaired numerous professional organizations such as the Environmental Council of the States, NH Energy Facility Evaluation Committee, NH Water Resources Council, Federal Ozone Transport Commission, Governmental Advisory Committee, and the EPA Superfund Policy Forum.
Lynn Werner
Lynn Werner is executive director of the Housatonic Valley Association, one of the oldest citizen's watershed protection organizations in the county. Since graduating from the University of Connecticut in 1976, Lynn has worked to protect the environment. She began at the Conn. Department of Environmental Protection conducting creel surveys and monitoring fish populations. In 1983, she joined the Housatonic Valley Association where she worked with citizens and local governments to make sure their voices were heard on regional environmental issues, including construction of gas pipelines, siting of low level nuclear waste sites and construction of a new four-lane highway. She and her team worked with the National Park Service to protect more than 7,000 acres on the Housatonic River. She helped grassroots groups and state and local agencies as the EPA began removing PCBs from the Housatonic. And in 1991 she began a 29-town program to protect open space and improve public access along both the Housatonic and Naugatuck rivers. In addition to her work with the Housatonic Valley Association, which has doubled in size and capacity since she began there, Lynn also serves on several other environmental boards and committees. She is a founding member of the Rivers Alliance of Connecticut, and a member and former chair of the Rivers Advisory Committee for the state Department of Environmental Protection.
Individual
Patricia L. Barry
Director, Medford, Mass. Energy & Environment (E&E)
As the Director of the Medford E&E, Patricia Barry has displayed exemplary leadership and devotion to the Medford Energy Independence Project, successfully constructing the first community scale wind turbine at a municipal school in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Installed at the McGlynn Elementary/Middle School, the 100 kilowatt wind turbine will provide 170,000 kilowatt hours of wind power to the school, reducing an estimated $25,000 in electricity costs and offsetting 133 tons of carbon dioxide each year. Furthermore, the project will serve as a valuable educational tool, an inspiring monument, a highly visible symbol of Medford's commitment to renewable energy, and provide leadership for other municipalities. Among many partnered endeavors Ms. Barry took on, she worked with ICLEI Sustainability for Local Governments to create a Project Case Study to provide a baseline for other communities to approach similar types of renewable energy projects in the future. Lastly, with the help from her partners, Ms. Barry successfully integrated a curriculum of renewable energy into Medford Public Schools, instilling a lasting presence of environmental awareness into the generations to come.
Mike DiBara and Tom Bienkiewicz
Mass. Dept. of Environmental Protection
Scott Durkee
Mass. Dept. of Energy Resources
Mike DiBara, of the Worcester Office of MA DEP, took on the challenge of energy efficiency in water and wastewater facilities in Massachusetts, recognizing a growing need in cities and towns who are not in the financial position to make investments needed to realize potential energy savings from those facilities. Tom Bienkiewicz was also an important part of this project. Scott Durkee, of the Department of Energy Resources, provided important support for Energy Audits. Over a year ago, Mike, Tom, and Scott began an Energy Management Pilot, developing an innovative partnership with local, state and federal entities and energy utility companies to reduce energy consumption by 20%, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and develop a model for strategic use of utility and public funding at fourteen water and waste water facilities. The results of the project after one year included: the investment of $9 million; annual cost savings of $1.2 million dollars/yr; annual savings of 9.4 million kilowatts/yr; the reduction of 7,000 tons of carbon dioxide/yr; and a fourteen percent savings in energy use and carbon dioxide reductions. The reason the pilot got such stunning results was the overall collaborative nature of the project. Mike was willing to work with the enormous bureaucracies of institutions such as investor- owned utilities in order to implement the project, while Tom and Scott's expertise in this area has contributed to the ongoing success and savings in both energy and money for the participating utilities. A huge amount of time went into meetings and presentations in order to get all the parties who are part of the energy world in Massachusetts to cooperate and offer services at low or no cost to municipalities. The project is now taking on Phase II, with another 200 drinking water and 120 wastewater facilities left to be addressed.
Cynthia Gianfrancesco
Principal Environmental Scientist in the Office of Waste Management
Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management
Cynthia Gianfrancesco has worked hard to find funding and support for the development and implementation of a successful targeted brownfields assessment program for the state of Rhode Island, establishing a successful means of providing assistance to the communities of the state who have contaminated properties in need of assessment as the first step in plans for site redevelopment and revitalization. Although Cynthia started out by utilizing some portion of the 128(a) Brownfields funding annually allotted to Rhode Island, her success in attracting properties to her program quickly outstripped her funding capacity. In an effort to better respond to the overwhelming needs of the communities in her state for the past two years, she has applied directly for assessment funding through the very competitive Brownfields annual competition. She received awards of $200,000 in 2007 and $400,000 in 2008. The additional funding has allowed her to expand the number of communities she is serving, including Woonsocket, Pawtucket, Central Falls, Warwick, West Warwick, Cranston, and Coventry. Cynthia's success had been both a model and an impetus for other state brownfields programs to build upon their existing capabilities. Cynthia's dedication, ability to think beyond what she is given and her relentless effort has helped make many brownfields projects in Rhode Island to become a reality.
Robert Grogan, Jr.
Recycling and Waste Manager, Harvard University
In his work as Harvard's Recycling and Waste Manager, Rob Gogan has inspired environmental leaders across campus and led the University to remarkable achievements in sustainability and waste management. Sustainability is Rob's lifestyle and worldview, and he uses his work to link environmental and humanitarian objectives. Not only is the existence of Harvard's recycling program a product of his efforts, but he can also be attributed to the hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of reusable Harvard excess that have been diverted from the waste stream into receptive hands. Rob connects Boston-area non-profits with Harvard's discarded furniture and office supplies through the Surplus Distribution he created and now runs; his annual Valentine's Day cosmetics drive provides a Cambridge woman's shelter with hundreds of pounds of "gently used" cosmetics; and the annual Harvard "Stuff Sale" resells to new students in September what would have otherwise been tons of student move-out waste in May. All proceeds from this sale (totaling over $60,000 last year) benefit the Harvard chapter of Habitat for Humanity. Rob's commitment to his cause has not just benefitted the local community, but inspires and enlightens the ever-changing campus community as well.
Jeremy Guay
Bay Path Regional Vocational Technology High School
Jeremy Guay has done an extensive amount of environmental work in various capacities this year to help educate best practices for autobody work. As a STAR painter and instructor at Bay Path Regional Vocational Technology High School, Jeremy has helped select and set up equipment, developed policies and practices at Bay Path High School that provided students there with a thorough knowledge and training in best practices in autobody shops, that is "greening" the profession of autobody work. The Bay Path High School shop was established in a time when many autobody shops and voc tech schools had not adopted pollution prevention operations that incorporated health and safety practices. He was also instrumental in securing the Bay Path facilities for student and voc tech instructor workshops, making a contact list for vocational directors in the MA Association of Vocational Administrators, outreach to autobody shop instructors and instructed and assisted some of the workshops himself. Always happy to stay extra time to answer questions, travel distances at his own expense and outstanding marks on evaluation sheets, it is obvious that Jeremy's instruction was the high point of these workshops. Mr. Guay's ability to convey practically and passionately the best practices to foster environmental stewardship and protect occupational health and safety has a lasting affect on his students, peers and other voc tech instructors.
Jeff Hanulec
Director of Engineering, Westin Copley Place
Jeff Hanulec is being recognized for his extraordinary results in the achievement of greening three Boston hotels, and for influencing other hoteliers to green their facilities as well. Beginning seven years ago when Jurys Hotel Boston opened, he persuaded the owners to fund an extensive energy efficiency retrofit that eventually led the hotel to receive an Energy Star label. Jeff then went on to work for the Westin Waltham Hotel as their director in engineering, where he again persuaded the owners to invest in energy efficiency projects. In less then a year he moved the facility's Energy Star score from 26 to 51. Jeff also initiated a broad scale recycling program and installed equipment that reduced the hotel's water consumption. In the summer of 2007, Jeff stepped up to his current position with Westin Copley Place, where he quickly helped secure an EPA WasteWise grant to start the facility's recycling program. In 2008, the hotel recycled 114 tons of material, including 27 tons of organic waste. Under his guidance, the annual electricity use was reduced by 1.1 million kilowatts, gas by 125,000 therms and water by 22.5 million gallons. He also implemented many different kinds of energy efficient technologies in the hotel. Jeff's influence also extends beyond these three hotels—he has been a presenter on an EPA Energy Star webinar on benchmarking hotels, helped Keyspan Energy on a study of the efficacy of ozone laundry equipment, is a member of Starwood's Corporate Sustainability Council, and has been a key leader within Boston Green Tourism.
Katherine G. Kennedy, M.D.
CT Stop the Pipeline
Dr. Kennedy began the bipartisan, grass roots organization "CT Stop the Pipeline" to educate and promote civic activism to prevent the installation of an interstate gas pipeline by Islander East across the Long Island Sound. The pipeline would have destroyed hundreds of acres of protected open space and natural habitats and irrevocably damaged the waters, seabed and aquatic life of the Long Island Sound. CT Stop the Pipeline and Dr. Kennedy's voice were heard at all levels of government, including the town, CT DEP, the CT Citing Council, the CT Attorney General, the CT General Assembly, the U.S. Corps of Army Engineers, the U.S. Department of Commerce and the FERC, as well as many state and federal courtrooms. Dr. Kennedy's success means that the current and future generations will be able to enjoy and marvel at the beauty and the sustenance that Long Island Sound provides to millions of people. Dr. Kennedy and her organization have left a legacy for other communities to have as a template to forge partnerships and coalitions, education the public and government, and create a record that can be effectively applied to protecting our resources and environment.
William Leahy
Chief Executive Director for Operations for the Institute for Sustainable Energy at Eastern Connecticut State University
Bill Leahy is responsible for the overall organization and operation management of the Eastern Connecticut State University, Institute for Sustainable Energy and has been a tireless advocate for energy efficiency. The Institute was established in 2001 to identify, develop, and implement the means for achieving a sustainable energy future and works on education, information and public policy. Focusing on energy education, Bill has created a one-week course to train school building management staff as well as curriculum for high school students. Through his efforts, over 60 school systems and 200 schools have been trained to work on energy efficiency in their schools. This training included the use of the ENERGY STAR portfolio manager tool, the process of benchmarking municipal buildings and tracking of energy use as a means of prioritizing the worst energy consuming buildings. Bill also works with other energy organizations in the State including the CT Energy Fund, the CT legislature and the CT Green Building champter of the US Green Building council.
Matthew Moore
Director of Rooms and Environmental Programs, Seaport Hotel
In 2005, Matt Moore developed an environmental program for his hotel named Seaport Saves. This program enabled Seaport Hotel to increase sustainable practices throughout the organization. Under Matt's leadership, the hotel reduced electricity use by 1.3 million kilowatts, purchased REC's for their guest room electricity use and achieved a 43 percent recycling rate. The Seaport's Green Team encourages their guests, team members and vendors to embrace and practice environmentally-friendly lifestyles as well. Since 2005, the Seaport Saves program has undertaken two-dozen green initiatives—many of which are groundbreaking for regional and U.S. hotels—and received numerous awards and recognition. Matt's dedication to the environmental movement goes beyond being the eco-ambassador for Seaport. He also is an important member of Boston Green Tourism, serves on the Advisory Board for PhilaGreen Hospitality Association, and has influenced many hoteliers across the country to green their facilities.
Environmental, Community, Academia & Non-profit Organizations
Breath of Life Dorchester Teens (B.O.L.D. Teens)
Reverend Bill Loesch, Cynthia Loesch, Nebulla Stephen, Celine O'Connor, Alexander Chery, Donalin Cazeau, Tiara Amarante, Shanaya Coke, Hyacynth Dixon, Mellisa Nash, Geralda Sylvain, Taylyse Wornum, SeWicka Bien-Aime, Ronny DeLeon, Jairo Fernandes, Rodney Simmons, Briana Miller, David Mejia
The Breath of Life Dorchester Teens (B.O.L.D. Teens) is a youth-led organization concerned with the health, environment, and safety of their community. Dorchester, Massachusetts is an economically disadvantaged minority community that confronts environmental injustices such as illegal dumping, hazardous waste, sewer overflows, and idling diesel buses on a daily basis. In 2008, the teens began to address air quality and community green space. They volunteered to work in partnership with EPA New England's Urban Environmental Program Special Project Coordinator and the Lead Action Collaborative (LAC) to help with efforts to end childhood lead poisoning in Boston, educating themselves about lead poisoning and the Community Assessment Tool (CAT) to look at neighborhood conditions on a house-by-house, street-by-street, lot-by-lot basis to identify areas with potential high risks. The teens collected CAT data on nearly 1,000 houses that are currently being analyzed and used to focus lead poisoning prevention efforts. In addition to their lead work, the teens worked with Roots & Shoots New England on a neighborhood beautification project, and worked with Codman Square Health Council – Family Inc. in organizing a Farmer's Market in Codman Square during the summer. The B.O.L.D. teens are a young and motivated group and have made outstanding contributions on behalf of human health and our environment.
Citizens for a Green Camden
Citizens for a Green Camden are a small group of concerned citizens working to make their community a better and healthier place to live, focusing specifically on the elimination of poisons being used on lawns in their community. Their first milestone victory was successfully passing a pesticide policy to eliminate the use of pesticides on the town's parks and playing fields, which has since been adopted by the neighboring town, Rockport. They also compare notes with a citizens group in Castine. The organization continues to work to educate homeowners about the dangers of using poisons on their lawns, running programs and providing written educational materials for residents at the town office. They were able to convince the town Bed and Breakfasts to join their efforts by not using pesticides on their properties, advertising those partners at the local Chamber of Commerce for visitors to see. The organization continues its education outreach through various other community-based methods to eventually eliminate poisons being used on lawns in the entire Camden community.
Dana Farber Cancer Institute
As a responsible provider of healthcare services and research into the causes and prevention of cancer, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is committed to the health of their patients, staff, communities and environment. In 2008 the Institute proactively sought and implemented new and better ways to meet its environmental goals through conservation, reduction, reuse, and recycling programs, and through partnerships with others in the community to safeguard the environment. Over the course of the year, the Institute collected over 262.65 tons of various materials for recycling or reuse, serving as a leader and great example to healthcare providers across the nation.
Environment Northeast (ENE)
Environment Northeast is a non-profit organization that researches and advocates innovative policies that tackle their environmental challenges while promoting sustainable economies. ENE is a leader of efforts at the state and regional levels combating global warming with solutions that promote clean energy, clean air, and healthy forests. In 2008, ENE made a leadership contribution by putting energy efficiency policies to work in multiple New England states. Working with broad coalitions of stakeholders and policy makers, ENE advanced a new and innovative model for increasing and institutionalizing investments in energy efficiency that can be replicated across states, sectors, and at the national level: the Efficiency Procurement model. The model fundamentally changes the way electric and gas utilities purchase energy resources to meet their customers' needs by requiring that all cost-efficient energy efficiency be purchased first by electric and gas utilities before investing in more expensive, traditional supply side contracts. This translates into huge economic and environmental savings by doubling or tripling efficiency funding. The Procurement model is measurable and replicable, and has already been adopted by four New England states: Rhode Island, Connecticut, Maine and Massachusetts.
The Food Project
The Food Project gathers youth and adults from all backgrounds and abilities and gives them the opportunity to contribute purposefully to society by growing food for the hungry and caring for the land. The 170 teens, staff and over 3,000 volunteers practice sustainable agriculture by employing techniques such as composting, drip irrigation, and limited pesticide use to leave a smaller footprint on the earth. In 2008 alone, they raised over 200,000 pounds of produce–40 percent going to hunger relief organizations, and 60 percent being sold at reasonable prices through a local cooperative and farmers markets. The Food Project also focuses on youth development so that teens will learn civic responsibility, environmental appreciation, earning a salary, how to organize in the community, public speaking and job training. This organization serves as a resource center for other groups and individuals worldwide, providing capacity building for organizations and educators to learn their innovative practices through materials, youth training, and professional development opportunities.
Long Creek Restoration Project Team
Long Creek is a small urban stream in Maine that does not meet state water quality standards due to high density urbanized development over the past several decades, converting the landscape from forests and farm fields into commercial, light industrial, retail and transportation uses. The health of Long Creek is also important to the health of downstream water bodies, that ultimately lead to the Casco Bay estuary. Representatives from the four municipalities located within the Long Creek watershed—South Portland, Westbrook, Scarborough, and Portland—the industrial, commercial and non-profit landowners, non-profit organizations in the watershed and several state entities all came together to form the Steering Committee that led the Long Creek Restoration Project. Their plan includes three tiers of targeted, practicable and prioritized structural and non-structural best management practices (BMPs), as well as strategies to restore in-stream and riparian habitats, and areas with degraded floodplains. The collaborative nature of this project and the development of its innovative Watershed Management Plan serve as a model for other rapidly developing urban communities across Maine, New England, and the rest of the nation.
Massachusetts Maritime Academy
The Massachusetts Maritime Academy (MMA) illustrates how an academic institution can find ways to promote renewable energy sources and energy efficiency while offering students a concrete example of how to integrate environmentally-friendly energy into everyday life. MMA has brought renewable energy to its campus with wind and solar technology, while promoting a host of other energy-efficiency and pollution-reduction efforts. With the help of partners, Division of Capital Asset Management, the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative and the University of Massachusetts Renewable Energy Research Lab, the MMA erected a 660 kilowatt wind turbine. MMA has also recently installed roof-top photovoltaic solar panels that can generate up to 81 kilowatts of electricity. The MMA also runs their campus in an environmentally-sustainable manner, with a computerized energy management system, recycling efforts, water conservation, Green Seal purchasing programs, and green landscaping. The MMA also has extensive future plans to continue to bring down energy costs and reducing harmful emissions.
Methuen Idle Reduction Collaboration
Aiden Flynn, Scott Round, Sam Malignaggi,
Methuen Police Department, Methuen City Council
The citizens of Methuen, Massachusetts, have struggled with addressing the chronic, long-duration idling by trucks and other vehicles patronizing the several commercial and industrial businesses at 126 Merrimack Street and by long-haul trucks and highway contractor snowplows using the property as a stopover and staging area, suffering from the resulting fumes and noise for several years. Working with EPA and local players, the Collaborative learned what leverage they had over idlings under state and local law, and worked together to monitor the property and "nip in the bud" any renewed idling. Improved communication and collaboration on the local level means that EPA input had a wide, constructive and lasting impact, while also providing valuable feedback on what interventions and recommendations worked and what did not. All forms of idling onsite are greatly diminished, making the neighbors happy and city officials more empowered, while still enabling the businesses to continue to function.
New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC)
Bethany Card, Susannah King
Beth and Susy have developed the Northeast Regional Mercury total maximum daily load (TMDL) that lays out a plan for the reduction of atmospheric deposition of mercury in the New England states and New York, which will improve water quality and human health impacts. Years of mercury deposition has led to widespread fish consumption advisories throughout the region. Recognizing that little was being done to control out-of-region upwind sources (such as coal-fired power plants, municipal waste combustors, etc.), Beth and Susy not only took on and successfully completed the development of a regional TMDL to address the mercury deposition, they did it in a cost-effective manner. After the call for reductions have been attained and water quality goals are met, fish tissue concentrations will be observed. The real results will be fish safe to eat and a significant risk reduction to human health.
Project 20/20
In Providence, Rhode Island, a Brown University student-run program called Project 20/20 has developed and perfected a replicable model to reduce global warming pollution on a large scale, while helping communities of modest means cope with fluctuating energy costs. Their strategy involves the replacement of incandescent lighting in low-income households with energy-efficient compact fluorescent lamps (CFL's) at no charge to the residents. This simple act generates significant utility bill savings and concomitant greenhouse gas reductions, empowering the family to take steps to further reduce their bills while protecting the environment. Since the spring of 2008, student employees of Project 20/20 replaced 36,242 light bulbs in 2,415 Rhode Island low-income residences, saving the families over $700,000 on their utility bills and offsetting over 4,000 metric tons of carbon emissions from entering the atmosphere. The success of Project 20/20 has received widespread, national recognition. Their work will continue into the coming year as it begins its first seed expansion at low-income neighborhoods, working for the DC Department of the Environment. Here they will continue their efforts to curb the global climate crisis, while providing valuable green-collar job vocational skills and educational opportunities in the field of energy efficiency.
Rhode Island Hospitality Association
Recognizing the responsibility for all industries to employ sustainable and green practices, Rhode Island's lodging, restaurant and tourism industries are taking a leadership position in employing green and sustainable business practices. Partnering with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM), the Rhode Island Hospitality Association developed the Rhode Island Hospitality Green Certification program, charting a roadmap for hospitality and tourism business to employ green business practices with a focus on energy conservation, waste minimization and recycling, and sustainable operating and business practices. Since the program was announced in January 2008, more than 35 hotels, restaurants and convention facilities have attained Green certification, with new companies applying each day.
Salem Recycles
In early 2008, Mayor Driscoll appointed the recycling committee "Salem Recycles" to start a green initiative to develop ways to increase recycling throughout the city and promote other green efforts. During their first year, the committee has distinguished itself by hosting a number of widely successful events, and was the primary force educating the citizens of Salem in the form of pamphlets, letters, newspaper columns, personal recognition, as well as information regarding the regulations for the new trash contract. The committee also continues various recycling initiatives with various partners throughout the city. Since its inception just one year ago, recycling rates have improved by over 50 percent, making Salem a leader on the North Shore regarding recycling efforts.
Westport, Connecticut District 4 RTM Members
Jonathan Cunitz, Liz Milwe, Gene Seidman, Jeffrey Wieser
In early 2008, the four Members of District 4 of the Westport, Connecticut Representative Town Meeting (RTM) met to discuss the concern of the increasing appearance of plastic bags on the town's roads, streams, river and beaches. Jonathan Cunitz, Liz Milwe, Gene Seidman, and Jeffrey Wieser spent the next several months researching the issue of plastic bags in the environment and the available alternatives to remedy this growing problem. After many meetings with town leaders, merchants, students, residents and other members of the Westport RTM, they concluded that the appropriate response was to enact an ordinance that encouraged the use of reusable shopping bags and ban the use of plastic retail checkout bags. In the months to follow, the ordinance was discussed at various meetings and finally submitted to the proper committees for approval. It received overwhelming support, and was approved by a vote of 26 to 5. Westport has now become one of the first communities east of California to pass a ban on retail checkout bags and its ordinances is the most extensive in the country, applying to all stores and even farmers' markets and sidewalk sales.
Governmental
Town of Easton, MA
The citizens of Easton for 40 years have been at the forefront of open space preservation and environmental protection. The town has more than 3,000 acres under conservation, many of them the habitat of rare and endangered species. The town has also taken a lead in water conservation and watershed protection, wetlands protection and environmental advocacy and planning. More recently, the town has worked to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by creating more walkable communities and a Green Communities Task Force to investigate ways to reduce municipal consumption of fuel and electricity. Education, like the annual children's poster contest, continues to be the most important tool for changing the way residents use water and protecting the drinking water supply. In the past year, the town acquired two more acres of land specifically for drinking supply protection. Easton has also begun to track energy and fuel consumption and each department is charged with reducing consumption by 5 percent over one year. All of this began with land conservation efforts involving a small group of citizens who recognized the importance of preserving open space and forested areas and guided the town in acquiring about 250 acres in an area called Wheaton Farm.
Stacy Ladner, Deb Stahler, Heather Jackson
Maine Department of Environmental Protection (ME DEP)
Stacy Ladner, Deb Stahler and Heather Jackson are national leaders in creating safer ways to address mercury releases from broken compact fluorescent light bulbs. The work of these employees in the Maine Department of Environmental Protection has changed the advice EPA and states give to people trying to contain mercury from CFLs. The three state workers discovered that existing protocols for addressing a release were not adequate after an emergency responder from Maine measured mercury air concentrations in a home where a light had broken. Levels were well above Maine's level of concern. Research these scientists conducted with environmental and health agencies found the release from a single CFL was not insignificant, as experts had thought. They found small amounts of mercury on carpeted surfaces could cause emissions for a long time. A well-designed study by Maine DEP and these scientists provided valuable information that influenced policy and practical guidance for cleaning lamps. Before releasing the study results, Maine DEP educated health and environmental officials so colleagues could have answers for the public ahead of time.
Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Team
All New England Partners
The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Team has set up innovative measures to control greenhouse gases, including the first-in-the-nation auction of CO2 emissions allowances. The six New England states are among 10 states pioneering this first mandatory cap and trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and states have committed to cap and then reduce the amount of CO2 emitted by power plants in their region, limiting the total regional contribution to greenhouse gases. A September auction brought in $28 million for Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Maine, Vermont and Maryland and two more auctions have been held since. New England states have made more than $80 million in revenues from the auctions, which can be used for future energy cutting and efficiency programs.
Solar Boston Program
The Solar Boston Program, founded in 2008 as part of the U.S. Department of Energy's Solar America Cities Initiative, is dedicated to increasing solar energy in Boston to 25 megawatts by 2015. In less than a year, the team produced a map of the city's solar resources, planned a procurement path for municipal solar installations and worked with other agencies to promote solar power. Its most visible accomplishment is a GIS map that lets residents evaluate the solar energy production potential of any building in Boston. The map, produced by city employees, received international attention from other cities looking to replicate it. The team also found the 10 roofs in the city with the largest solar potential and contacted building owners. Program staff has connected businesses and residents to installers, utilities and rebate programs and has held training sessions to encourage solar growth. Since the program began, solar capacity in Boston had more than tripled to 1.8 megawatts as of February. The Solar program has succeeded in large part by bringing together so many different parts of the Boston community in a single year.
State Electronic Challenge Partners
The state government of Maine; the Department of Environmental Protection in Connecticut; the City of Keene in New Hampshire; and the school department in the city of Providence, Rhode Island, are all being recognized for their involvement in a voluntary program that promotes greener use and disposal of government technology equipment. The challenge is administered by the Northeast Recycling Council. In its first year, the State Electronics Challenge signed on 29 partners, including entire state governments as well as small municipal departments. The four organizations chosen for awards have shown exceptional leadership in the field. The achievements of this group include purchasing greener or "environmentally preferable" computers, reducing energy use by computers through software and employee education, and managing old electronics through reuse, recycling and other methods that reduce their impact. Altogether, the partners in this program reduced energy by the amount used by 1662 households a year; avoided greenhouse gases equivalent to taking 1,370 cars off the road for a year; and eliminated 152 metric tons of trash, the amount of waste generated by 76 households a year.
Volunteer River Assessment Program
NH Department of Environmental Services
Hundreds of volunteers with the NH Volunteer River Assessment Program have for 10 years provided data to the NH Department of Environmental Services regarding more than 9,500 miles of rivers and streams in New Hampshire. In addition to collecting data, volunteers for the program have become advocates for clean water and holistic watershed management. In 1998, this program was created to educate the public on water resources, to improve water quality monitoring and to encourage long-term stewardship. After 10 years of state and local partnership and help from 200 volunteers from 30 rivers groups, advisory committees, watershed associations and individuals, volunteers have made a significant difference in monitoring local water quality. Over the years, these groups have started taking ownership of their own sampling and management programs and have served as stewards of state rivers and streams, providing access to date the state would not have been able to get on its own. This program gives citizen volunteers technical assistance and equipment, as well as a direct economic return as they protect their own natural resources
Business, Industry & Professional Organizations
Lights Out Boston
City of Boston, Mass Audubon Society, CB Richard Ellis
Lights Out Boston is a partnership of the City of Boston, large commercial properties, and the Mass Audubon Society to reduce energy use, promote energy efficiency and protect migrating birds during the fall and spring migrations. This is a voluntary program where downtown skyscrapers of thirty or more floors have their architectural and interior lights turned off from 11pm to 5am. Over 34 commercial properties in Boston have joined, including iconic towers such as the John Hancock, the Prudential and International Place. Lights Out Boston protects migrating birds, which have a difficulty adapting to an urban environment. When a city skyline—especially buildings over 30 stories high—is brightly lit at night, the lights can confuse the birds, causing them to fly into the building which can kill them. Also realizing the benefits of shutting off unnecessary lighting, most building managers have continued to follow the requirements of Lights Out Boston after the end of the migratory season. They are setting an example that encourages everyone to use energy more efficiently.
Staples, Inc.
Mike Payette
Staples, Inc. is being recognized as a high-performing partner in EPA's SmartWay Transport Partnership, and as host and co-organizer of Alt Wheels Fleet Day 2008. Staples chooses fuel-efficient carriers to ship its office supply products long-distance and productively seeks avenues to make their fleet of 800 trucks more energy efficient. Their fleet of trucks is equipped with speed and idling limiting devices, use LED exterior and interior lights on timers, have an extra fuel tank to reduce frequency of refueling, reduce body weight with aluminum roof panels, pilot hybrid diesel/electric trucks, and much more. Nationwide, Staples' fleet fuel economy increased from 8.5 to 10.4 mpg, or nearly 19% in the space of one year. This saved about 500,000 gallons of diesel fuel and offset about 6,000 tons of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere. At the Alt Wheels Festival in 2008, Mike Payette shared his experience and success with other fleet management professionals and demonstrated that business, nonprofits and government can work together to promote sustainable technology and smart business practices that are good for the environment and their bottom line. This drew an unprecedented roster of sponsors and speakers, as well as a large and diverse audience. As if these efforts were not enough, Staples has taken its environmental ethic beyond transportation, hosting solar arrays at twenty-five locations, a wind turbine project currently under consideration, and have scheduled a solid oxide fuel cell to provide power to a distribution facility in early 2009. Staples, Inc. is a true environmental leader in the business world.
TD Banknorth Garden
Delaware North Companies - Boston
During the past couple of years, the Boston's TD Banknorth Garden has made considerable strides in reducing their environmental impact. Delaware North Companies – Boston, owner and operator of the TD Banknorth Garden, now provides newspaper and bottle recycling opportunities for the more than twenty thousand commuters who walk through North Station each week day and the 3.5 million people who attend concerts, shows and sporting events at the Garden. Behind the scenes Delaware North has done substantial work reducing their solid waste, increasing what they recycle and their recycling rate, reducing their energy use, and also participating in MA DEP and EPA's WasteWise program. The Garden found ways to reduce the amount of waste they generate through reduced packaging, instituted a composting program for food waste, changed their outdoor lighting to LED technology, reducing the energy used by more than 50%, and reduced their electricity usage by 15% to 20% by working through an energy service company. Just as important as the steps they've taken to reduce their environmental impacts, they have been interested in evaluating whether they're making the best choices and how they can improve the implementation of their programs. The facility recently invited MA DEP and EPA to look at what they're doing and asked what they could do better.
Environmental Leaders of the Future
Green Your Lives
Gilbert H. Hood Middle School, Derry, New Hampshire
"Green Your Lives" is a student-led initiative dedicated to educating the students and school community on going green and putting their knowledge into action. The students' goal is to promote greener lifestyle choices which results in a reduction of energy costs and carbon emissions. The students began their work within the school focusing on energy conservation, waste reduction, and recycling. Their work has since expanded to include a community outreach program Give and Go in the Town of Bedford, NH, which educated more students and community members on greening their lives. They have also created an informational website, produced public service announcements, created educational posters and videos for many schools across the state and country, and built a model solar car and are experimenting on creating a hydro prototype. Over the project's history, the team's efforts have reduced paper output by 30%, promoted using 100% recycled paper, defaulted all printers in the school to print double-sided, powering down classrooms and computers nearly 100% when not in use, improved recycling in the cafeteria, and educated students in seven other schools about the waste output and lifecycles of products they buy and use. Because of this project 1,000 pounds of waste has been diverted from going into landfills or other waste streams. Green Your Lives has been a motivating endeavor that has allowed students and staff to think and act beyond the term of this project and make it a part of their everyday life.
