Kentucky Ag Connection - Awards Presented at Energy and the Environment Conference

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Awards Presented at Energy and the Environment Conference
Kentucky Ag Connection - 10/18/2018

The Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet presented 13 environmental awards at its annual Governor's Conference on Energy and the Environment at the Lexington Convention Center.

The awards reflect a commitment by those honored to preserving and enhancing the Commonwealth through energy efficiency, soil conservation, mine land reclamation, farmland stewardship or innovation.

Lt. Governor Jenean Hampton and Energy and Environment Cabinet Secretary Charles Snavely presented the awards. Highlighting the ceremony was the presentation of the Secretary's Award, given annually to a person, business, municipality or non-governmental organization that has demonstrated long-term leadership and commitment to sustainability, environmental protection, conservation of natural resources or is responsible for the development of energy resources.

The 2018 Secretary's Award went to Tom "Fitz" Fitzgerald, director of the Kentucky Resources Council, who has spent nearly four decades advocating for those, "downhill, downwind and downstream," as was inscribed upon his award.

Other awards handed out to those honored included:

- The Kentucky Heritage Land Conservation Fund Stewardship Award, given by the Kentucky State Nature Preserve Commission, was awarded to Campbellsville University for its management of Clay Hill Memorial Forest.

- The Biodiversity Award, given by the Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves, was awarded to The Kentucky Native Plant Society for its educational programs and research grants to students.

- The Outstanding Forest Steward Award, given by the Department for Natural Resources, was awarded to William and Chris Lagermann of Red Lick Ranch, LLC, for their excellent woodlands management.

- The Excellence in Reclamation Award, given by the Department for Natural Resources, was awarded to CAM Mining, LLC, which donated 531 acres of re- vegetated land plus almost 500 more acres of adjacent land to the City of Pikeville to help create an industrial site.

- The Award for Excellence in Mine Safety, given by the Department for Natural Resources, was awarded to East Mac and Nellie Mine, whose 100 employees have produced approximately 1.5 million tons of coal, while operating injury free for two-and-a-half years.

- The Award for Excellence in Abandoned Mine Lands Reclamation, given by the Department for Natural Resources, was awarded to Triple H Excavating, LLC, which persevered over weeks of bad weather and challenging terrain to abate a significant and dangerous Abandoned Mine Lands problem at Leatherwood, KY.

- The Kentucky EXCEL Champion Award, presented by the Department for Environmental Protection was awarded to Sekisui S-Lec America for its commitment to reducing greenhouse gases in all its processes, as well as reducing waste and identifying water resource risks -- all the while reducing consumption.

- The Environmental Pacesetter Award, given by the Department for Environmental Protection, was awarded to the Lincoln County Sanitation District, which pursued and received multiple grants and loans to install a sanitary sewer line to allow the waste to be transported for treatment.

- The Resource Caretaker Award, given by the Department for Environmental Protection, was awarded to Dr. Chris Barton, of Green Forests Work, for his work at reforesting surface-mined land in the Appalachian region, especially in eastern Kentucky.

- The Community Environmental Luminary Award, given by the Department for Environmental Protection, was awarded to Leggett & Platt, Inc. -- Winchester Spring Branch No. 2, for its work spreading information about recycling and preserving our environment among more than 450 young students.

- The Kentucky Excellence in Energy Leadership awards, given by the Office of Energy, were awarded to Nolin Rural Electric Cooperative and to the Glasgow Water Company. Nolin Rural Electric was honored for its long history of leadership and innovation in providing energy services. Glasgow Water was honored for reducing electricity costs more than 25 percent and energy usage per unit volume of wastewater treated by more than 40 percent.

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