2017 Governor's Environmental Excellence Awards

October 31, 2017

Contact: David Madore, Communications Director, david.madore@maine.gov or (207) 287-5842

Governor Paul R. LePage and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2017 Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence. The awards, which are administered by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, recognize businesses, public entities and individuals for their extraordinary efforts to protect and improve Maine's environment. "Maine DEP is pleased to spotlight this year's winners, who provide solid examples of innovation and sustainability for Maine businesses and citizens to follow," said Maine DEP Commissioner Paul Mercer.

The Maine Department of Environmental Protection is committed to improving our State's regulatory climate and to creating a stronger culture of cooperation between government and Maine people and businesses. The 2017 Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence will be awarded to the following:

Pratt & Whitney - North Berwick

Pratt & Whitney, with approximately 33,500 employees worldwide and 1,800 employees at the North Berwick facility, is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines, auxiliary and ground power units and small turbojet propulsion products for both commercial and military sectors. PWNB has recently implemented a coolant reconditioning program in which coolant is recycled through a three-tank system. The coolant reconditioning program has the potential once it reaches its full utilization to save 100 gallons of coolant per day and the potential to save nearly 1,100 gallons of water daily.

Kenneth Locke, Director of Environmental Services - City of Brewer

Ken Locke has worked for the City of Brewer since 1992 in a variety of capacities, before becoming the Director of Environmental Services for the City in 2000. Since 2003, Mr. Locke has taken a proactive and aggressive approach to maintaining Brewer's Stormwater Management Program and has shown he is committed to protecting the health and safety of its citizens and the quality of the surface waters of Maine. Additionally, Ken Locke organized the annual Brewer Stream Cleanup event, which has attracted 200 volunteers and collected three to five tons of trash annually. Both professionally and personally, Mr. Locke has dedicated considerable time to educating local students, citizens of Brewer and neighboring communities about stormwater pollution and the importance of clean water.

James Atwell, Retired Senior Project Manager - Sevee & Maher Engineers. Inc.

Throughout his 50-year career as a civil and environmental engineer, James Atwell of Falmouth has used his professional skills to make Maine a better place to work and live. Mr. Atwell has devoted much of his energies to helping reinvent the struggling forest products industry as well as support biomass conversion technologies to enhance Maine's competitiveness in producing sustainable forest bioproducts, particularly biofuels.

He has been a strong voice in balancing natural resource protection with the growing infrastructure needs of municipalities, businesses and individuals. His work has focused on incorporating clean technologies into many environmental and infrastructure projects, and he has distinguished himself as a leader in many facets of environmental engineering. Mr. Atwell's work in waste management, energy reduction, sustainability and environmental stewardship has directly or indirectly benefitted every person in Maine.

In the coming weeks, DEP Commissioner Paul Mercer will be making site visits to the honorees at their business establishment to make the award presentations.