(11/P138) TRENTON – A host of environmental, student, business, science, and civic leaders from across New Jersey are being recognized for their ideas and commitment to protecting and enhancing our state’s environment, as they will be named winners of the 2011 Governor’s Environmental Excellence Awards at a ceremony to be held tonight at the State Museum.

Projects and concepts honored include planning initiatives to incorporate green design, transportation, and open space preservation; engaging the public to reduce the use of fertilizers and harsh soaps from entering streams and waterways; building innovative solar, wind and landfill gas energy projects; promoting recycling efforts in their communities; and restoring wetlands in public spaces, among others.

Three of the winners highlight local initiatives to promote stewardship of Barnegat Bay. The Christie Administration has made restoration of the bay from decades of ecological decline a key environmental priority.

“These concepts showcase environmental excellence at its best in our state,’’ said DEP Commissioner Bob Martin. ‘‘We can all learn from these award winnerss. They are taking action in their communities, recognizing natural beauty, utilizing natural resources and discovering new and innovative ways to improve our environment. The winners and all of those who participated have set a truly high bar for environmental excellence among all New Jerseyans. Governor Christie and I commend their leadership.’’

This is the 12th annual awards ceremony. It became known as the Governor's Environmental Excellence Awards in 2006. Coordinated by DEP, the program is sponsored by the New Jersey Corporation for Advanced Technology and the New Jersey State League of Municipalities.

A panel of judges accepted more than 60 nominations that featured unique or valuable environmental concepts or activities.

To learn more about the Governor’s Environmental Excellene Awards visit www.nj.gov/dep/eeawards.

GOVERNOR’S ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE AWARDS

Clean Air Category
Winner: Atlantic County Utilities Authority (ACUA), Pleasantville
ACUA is recognized for its solar, wind and landfill gas energy projects. Projects include a 500-kilowatt solar array, 7.5-megawatt wind farm and 5.4-megawatt landfill gas-to-energy project, which provides 100 percent of the electricity needed to power facilities operating in ACUA’s 360-acre Environmental Park solid waste facility. The ACUA provides wastewater and solid waste recycling services to the 274,000 residents of Atlantic County.
           
Water Resources Category
Winner: Ocean County Boat Pumpout Program, Ocean County
Ocean County is recognized for its boat effluent waste removal program for Barnegat Bay. Since its inception in 1998, 727,000 gallons of effluent have been removed from holding tanks of boats that may otherwise have been discharged directly into the Barnegat Bay estuary.

Healthy Ecosystems Category
Winner:New Jersey Conservation Foundation (NJCF), Far Hills
NJCF is recognized for its wetlands restoration project at the 9,400-acre Franklin Parker Preserve located in Burlington County, in the Pinelands National Reserve. Partnering with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resource Conservation Service, when completed, this project will convert 1,100 acres of cranberry bogs, blueberry field and disturbed agricultural wetlands back to natural wetland communities.

Honorable Mention: American Littoral Society, Highlands
The American Littoral Society is recognized for its “Bayscape for Barnegat Bay” program which encourages responsible landscaping practices around the bay. This program includes education through workshops and in-ground demonstrations, plus partnerships with business, homeowner associations and residents. In 2011, the program added a Bayscape for Barnegat Bay retail garden center to further promote the sale of native plants in the watershed.
   
Innovative Technology Category
Winner: Johnson & Johnson Information Technology Center, Raritan
The Johnson & Johnson Information Technology Center is recognized for its unique solar array and stormwater management project. Solar canopies installed over parking lots will produce 2.1 megawatts of power. Stormwater diverted off canopies, which would otherwise run off into the parking lot, will recharge ground water and go to a collection tank to be used to irrigate lawns at the site.

Land Conservation Category
Winner: New Jersey Audubon’s Support Agriculture Viability and the Environment (SAVE) Initiative, Port Murray
Operating in 16 of the state’s 21 counties, New Jersey Audubon’s SAVE initiative has found an innovative and practical way to conserve land by developing a program that makes it economically viable for participating farmers to grow black oil sunflowers for birdseed. Incorporating aspects of the locally grown movement, it guarantees participating farmers a set price and an established market for sunflower seeds through Audubon’s 22,000 members. In addition to preserving farmland, revenue from every bag of birdseed sold goes to protecting critical wildlife habitat, including restoring 70 acres of native grasslands at a state wildlife management area this year.

Healthy & Sustainable Communities Category
Winner: Jersey City Green Committee, Jersey City
The Jersey City Green Committee is recognized for its comprehensive sustainable redevelopment planning initiatives, incorporating green design, transportation, urban agriculture and open space preservation. The committee developed many sustainability policies resulting in reduced energy and resource consumption, enabling healthier lifestyles and advancing environmental stewardship.

Honorable mention: Grow it Green Morristown, Morristown
Grow it Green Morristown is recognized for its community garden program utilizing underdeveloped land and donating produce to local food banks and soup kitchens, including more than 2,000 pounds of food this year. 

Honorable mention: Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Essex County, Roseland
Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Essex County is recognized for its sustainable landscaping and stormwater management training program for military veterans. Through a partnership of Rutgers Cooperative Extension, the Planetree Corporation, and the Veteran Affairs New Jersey Health Care System, unemployed veterans are trained through a green job skills program based at the East Orange Veterans Affairs Hospital.

Environmental Education Category
Winner: Lavallette Elementary School Environmental Club – “Nix Nitrogen ‘N Nettles Now” Barnegat Bay nitrogen reduction education program, Lavallette
Lavallette Elementary School 7th graders, their teachers and parent volunteers are recognized for their “Nix Nitrogen ‘N Nettles Now“ Barnegat Bay nitrogen reduction education program. The students’ efforts have led to an increase in public awareness in their barrier island community and have encouraged residents to reduce the amount of fertilizer they apply in their yards.

Honorable Mention: Victoria Pan, Student, Ridgewood H.S, Ridgewood
Victoria Pan, a Ridgewood High School senior, is recognized for her energy conservation and recycling efforts at her high school.  She is also recognized for her significant accomplishments providing outreach to other schools so they may duplicate the successes.

Environmental Leadership Category
Winner: Valerie Montecalvo, President, Bayshore Recycling, Keasbey
Valerie Montecalvo is honored for her leadership efforts in the field of recycling and her company’s commitment to alternative energy. Under her leadership, Bayshore Recycling operates an array of permitted recycling facilities with a combined capacity of over 10,000 tons per day. Moreover, in 2008, $5.7 million was invested for a 679-kilowatt rooftop solar energy system that assists in powering the day to day operations.

NOTE: This year’s award ceremony will be preceded by a tour of the “Essential Life” exhibit by Maplewood artist Tricia Zimic that focuses on wildlife conservation.  The exhibit is on view through Feb. 19, 2012.

MEDIA NOTE: Ceremony photos will be posted on the DEP main website on Friday. Media may download these photos or request additional photos by contacting the DEP Press Office. Photos of the Lavallette Elementary School students are available by contacting the Press Office.