EPA awards MD water utility manager for efficient renewable energy efforts

Feb. 27, 2014
EPA will give Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission Energy Manager Robert Taylor the Individual Leadership Award for his energy efficiency leadership.


LAUREL, MD, Feb. 25, 2014 -- This evening at the Climate Leadership Awards (CLA) ceremony in San Diego, Calif., the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will give Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) Energy Manager Robert Taylor the Individual Leadership Award for his leadership in energy efficiency and greenhouse gas reduction.

The EPA's CLA is a national awards program that recognizes exemplary corporate, organizational and individual leadership in response to climate change. The Individual Leadership Award acknowledges individuals demonstrating extraordinary leadership in their organizations' response to climate change and/or affecting the responses of other organizations. Likewise, Taylor's efforts have helped WSSC achieve an annual savings of close to $2 million.

Through a 10-year wind-power purchase agreement, WSSC receives approximately 30 percent of its electrical power from wind. WSSC is reducing greenhouse gases released into the Washington area by 38,000 tons/yr. In addition, solar power systems have recently been installed at two of WSSC's wastewater treatment plants and will provide on average 17 percent of the necessary electricity, saving ratepayers approximately $3.5 million over the life of the agreement. These systems are expected to help reduce carbon dioxide emissions equal to avoiding the use of approximately 358,680 gallons of gasoline each year.

Taylor was instrumental in the development and implementation of WSSC's Climate Action Plan in 2012, building on seven years of internal engagement and education efforts. The plan includes WSSC's publicly-stated goal of a 50-percent reduction of GHGs by 2030 from a base year of 2005. The WSSC Greenhouse Gas Action Plan is available at http://www.wsscwater.com/home/jsp/content/green-energy.faces.

About EPA's Climate Protection Partnerships Division

EPA's Climate Protection Partnerships Division is committed to reducing greenhouse gases (GHGs) through cost-effective partnerships to advance clean energy and energy efficiency across the U.S. economy. For more information, visit http://epa.gov/climatechange.

About Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission

Established in 1918, today WSSC is among the largest water and wastewater utilities in the nation, with a network of nearly 5,600 miles of fresh water pipeline and more than 5,400 miles of sewer pipeline. Our service area spans nearly 1,000 square miles in Prince George’s and Montgomery counties serving 1.8 million residents through approximately 460,000 customer accounts. WSSC drinking water has always met or exceeded federal standards. For more information, visit www.wssc.com.

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