Press Release: Governor Schwarzenegger Announces Winners of Prestigious Environmental Awards 12/01/03--Winners Honored for Sustaining Economic Development While Protecting the Environment

For Immediate Release (R6-2003)
December 1, 2003

Contact: James Spagnole, Cal/EPA
(916) 324-9670

SACRAMENTO--Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced the winners of the 2003 Governor's Environmental and Economic Leadership Awards. The awards were presented at the California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA) Headquarters Building in Sacramento by Cal/EPA Secretary Terry Tamminen and Resources Agency Secretary Mike Chrisman.

Established in 1993, the Governor's Environmental and Economic Leadership Awards are California's highest and most prestigious environmental honor recognizing individuals, organizations, and businesses that have demonstrated exceptional leadership in building public-private partnerships while making notable contributions in conserving California's environment.

Recipients are chosen from throughout California for promoting excellence in compatible, sustainable economic development while protecting the environment and conserving natural resources. A panel of senior executives representing the State of California's environmental and resource programs evaluated all applications for strength in seven specific areas. Criteria considered in the competitive weighting of nominations included: economic progress, innovation, uniqueness, results, transferability, environmental impact, resource conservation impact, and environmental justice. This year's awards recognize outstanding contributions by 24 businesses, organizations and government offices in seven award categories.

Recipients of the 2003 Governor's Environmental and Economic Leadership are listed below by Award Categories:

SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES: Pioneering efforts to integrate sound environmental values into management decisions and practices, in the long-term.

1. Fetzer Vineyards - Mendocino County: Fetzer Vineyards has long practiced sustainability as the core of its business philosophy and is an environmental leader helping to establish standards for organic farming and sustainable business practices. Fetzer Vineyard's established business goals have helped the winery reduce waste to landfill by 94%, reduce energy demand by 28%, and increase sales by 15% annually. Fetzer's sustainable practices started in 1998 and it was the first winery to be completely sustainable in California and is recognized as a leader in the industry for growing, producing, and marketing wines.

2. CourseCo, Inc. Golf Course Environmental Management - Statewide: CourseCo. Inc., Golf Course Management and Development - follows sustainable practices through the use of reclaimed water, development and cultivation of disease resistant grasses, delineation of environmentally sensitive area within course boundaries, promoting the use of native plant life and minimization of pesticides. The California-based company manages 13 golf courses, which are innovative, community-conscious, and maintain a high-level of sustainable practices in the industry.

3. Petaluma Poultry Sustainability Team - Sonoma County: Petaluma Poultry is a leader in sustainable and organic poultry farming. Petaluma Poultry's widely managed sustainable efforts have resulted in reduced energy and waste. Petaluma Poultry introduced Rocky the Range Chicken, fills specialty markets, and is responsive to community needs.

4. Thimmakka's Resources for Environmental Education Greening Ethnic Restaurants - San Francisco, Alameda, Santa Clara & Contra Costa Counties: Greening Ethnic Restaurants (GER) partners with city, county and private organizations in order to implement 57 environmental measures in restaurants in segments of solid waste minimization, water conservation, energy conservation and pollution prevention. The program was initiated in 2001 and focuses on ethnic restaurant owners & employees by coordinating interaction with green business programs and regulators in Bay Area counties.

LAND USE: Efforts that promote environmentally sensitive development, comprehensive land use planning; or the development of planning methods that prevent urban sprawl or reclaim abandoned industrial properties.

1. The Sacramento Region Blueprint: Transportation/Land Use Study - Sacramento County: The Blueprint Project is a comprehensive examination of land-use patterns in the Sacramento region, using state-of-the-art modeling tools to estimate transportation, air quality, economic and other effects of current land use patterns, and develop alternatives to those patterns for future growth. The Sacramento Region Blueprint is a far-reaching regional plan for jobs, housing, transportation, land use, air quality, and water issues over 50 years.

2. Lideres Comunitarios de Salinas - Salinas General Plan Update - Monterey County: Lideres Comunitarios de Salinas is a community/volunteer organization, formed in 2002 and composed primarily of monolingual Spanish-speaking agricultural workers. Workers were given classes in Land Use planning in order to participate in the general plan update. The group was effective in getting policies passed that were beneficial to their community such as increasing the affordable housing allotment from 12% to 42%.

SUSTAINABLE FACILITIES: Recognizing exemplary building projects that showcase leadership in the area of green construction practices.

1. Capitol Area East End Complex - Department of Education Building - Sacramento County: The Capitol Area East End Complex embodies significant accomplishments in sustainable measures. The project led to the creation of one of the most energy efficient buildings in the United States. The U.S. Green Building Council recognized the project by awarding the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. As a sustainable design model in state manuals, the design is very transferable to the private sector. The project made good use and re-use of materials, including properly managing 250 million tons of construction debris, as well as created 400 jobs.

2. Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. - Toyota South Campus - Los Angeles County: The Toyota Earth Charter calls for Toyota associates around the world to reduce the environmental impact not only for Toyota products but also in every aspect of the business. Toyota South Campus (624,000 sq. ft.) was designed for convenience and flexibility that a green building can provide, as well as Toyota's dedication to a sustainable environment through their Process Green initiative. It has the largest solar power system in the United States and exceeds Title 24 by 25%.

3. Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA) - New Administrative Headquarters - San Bernardino County: The IEUA designed and constructed its new headquarters with the goal of attaining the first 2.0 platinum level LEED rating. Their facility managed to reduce 73% of potable water demand, 90% energy savings, used recycled materials in building construction and planted 10,000 native and drought tolerant species. The two, 33,000 sq. ft. buildings were constructed in 2002-03 and addressed the highest standards in construction for water conservation, storm water retention, wetlands, energy consumption, recycling and recharging groundwater.

CHILDREN'S ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION: Exemplary educational programs or curricula to raise children's awareness of, and involvement in, environmental issues.

1. Environmental Volunteers - Kids-In-Nature Program - San Clara & San Mateo Counties: The Environmental Volunteers shares the wonders of natural science with children in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties, nurturing their love of and connection to nature in the San Francisco Bay ecosystem. Started by volunteers, the Kids-In-Nature Program is 31-years-old and has reached more than 280,000 children in grades K-12 and has program materials in English and Spanish.

2. Placer Nature Center - Placer County: In collaboration with public and private schools, the Placer Nature Center improves the educational experience for more than 8,000 pre K-12 children annually by providing quality science instruction and improving science literacy using interactive curriculum. The Center restored an old site to house an exhibit hall, education gardens, trails, an environmental library and replica of a Native American Village on the 60-acre site.

3. FARMS Leadership Program and SLEWS Program - Statewide: Utilizing the collaborative talents and resources in California's local communities, the FARMS Leadership Program and SLEWS Programs provide inner-city high school youth with hands-on learning experiences in natural ecosystem restoration and sustainable agricultural systems. The multi-layered educational program develops personal strengths and respect for the vital interplay the economics of food production, culture, nature and the environment.

4. The Surfrider Foundation - Respect the Beach - Statewide: Respect the Beach is the Surfrider Foundation's flagship education program that teaches students and teachers about coastal ecology and environmentalism using various methodologies that includes field trips, classroom lectures, handouts, videos, interactive computer applications and hands-on projects designed to teach ocean safety, marine ecology and coastal area stewardship to K-12 students and community groups.

5. California State Parks - Between a Rock and a Hard Place - Statewide: California State Parks' Between a Rock and a Hard Place is a video-based program in Spanish and English with pre-reading and site visits. As California teachers have become more aware of the magic that tide pools offer their students, there has been a measurable interest in guided field trips throughout the state's rocky intertidal coastline. Between a Rock and a Hard Place strives to educate the next generation about the importance of preserving and protecting this living library.

6. County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works - The Environmental Defenders School Assembly Program - Los Angeles County: To reduce the amount of waste going to landfills, the County of Los Angeles hired Rogers & Associates in 1997 to create a public education campaign focusing on the county's K-6 children whom are a pivotal influence on family behaviors and environmental awareness. The Environmental Defenders School Assembly Program reached 1.4 million children in six years and third-party research, including pre-and-post evaluations, have verified that the benefits and impact on children goes above and beyond the requirements of AB 939.

TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION: The development or application of new and innovative technologies for improving environmental quality and protecting public health and safety.

1. Mammoth Pacific, LP - Evaporative Cooling Research Project - Mono County: The Mammoth Pacific geothermal facilities in Mono County performed an innovative research and demonstration project testing different evaporative cooling technologies to increase the generation of clean, renewable electricity during summer month's when the state's power demand rises. Mammoth Pacific geothermal facilities have proved to be very sustainable, efficiently using renewable energy and recyclable water. It is the world's first air-cooled geothermal facility.

2. Anderson Lithograph - Cogeneration/PTE - Los Angeles County: Anderson Lithograph has designed and installed an on-site, natural gas burning cogeneration system to meet all electricity and air conditioning needs for the company. The system was uniquely customized to capture and destroy nearly all fugitive emissions from the printing presses as a secondary fuel source. Anderson Lithograph demonstrates remarkable leadership: applies technology innovation in numerous areas of their business, environmentally conscious in many aspects (soy ink, energy consumption, reduced gas emissions), and is one of the first members on the California Climate Action Registry.

WATERSHED & ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION: Laudable efforts of restoring, enhancing, and improving California's watersheds, while promoting sustainable economic progress.

1. Five Counties Salmonid Conservation Program (5C) - Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino, Trinity & Siskiyou Counties: The 5C was formed in response to the listing of the Coho salmon as an endangered species. It works to develop and promote the removal of barriers to fish migration. The 5C has developed land use conservation standards to improve overall water quality and watershed health to assist in the restoration of anadromous salmonid habitat in Northern California. The 5C's success includes the removal of 30 fish migration barriers and 63,700 cubic yards of sediment removed from potential delivery to streams, and has provided leadership for better county policies and practices.

2. The South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL) - Nevada County: The SYRCL is one of the largest, most effective watershed organizations in California. The SYRCL's collaborative restoration efforts have helped attract more than $110 million in state and federal restoration funds. The 20 year-old organization is well established, has proven to be successful and collaborative and has a very high degree of citizen involvement in watershed and ecosystem restoration.

3. Wildcat-San Pablo Creeks Watershed Council - Alameda County: The San Pablo Watershed Council is distinguished by its collaborative planning and trust-development phases, which successfully implement many ecological restoration and community service projects. This community's creek was going to be paved for flood control and the San Pablo Watershed Council developed a flood control plan for restoring, enhancing, and improving the watershed effects and promoted the plan for usage by flood control authorities.

ENVIRONMENTAL-ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIPS: Efforts that foster unique, cooperative approaches between the private, public, and/or non-profit sectors to achieve both environmental and economic ends.

1. The Water Forum - Sacramento, Placer & El Dorado Counties: The Water Forum has successfully joined together purveyors, environmentalists, agriculturalists, business leaders and the City and County of Sacramento in a monumental agreement to secure the future of the Sacramento region water supply to the year 2030. The innovative and collaborative effort of the landmark Water Forum working agreement was signed in April 2000 after six years of discussion and negotiation.

2. Ecology Action of Santa Cruz - Business Environmental Performance Initiative Programs - Madera, Sonoma, Napa, Marin & Santa Cruz Counties: Ecology Action is an environmental non-profit that has instilled environmental awareness and created opportunities for individuals, businesses, and communities to save money, create jobs, and contribute to a sustainable local economy. Ecology Action's success is grounded in relationships with a network of affiliations, government agencies and civic groups. Based in Santa Cruz, the 30-year-old non-profit developed exemplary public-private partnerships beyond county limits, works with governmental organizations dealing with energy, water, land and agriculture.

3. Port of Oakland - Middle Harbor Shoreline Park - Alameda County: Middle Harbor Shoreline Park was first conceived in 1994 as a part of the Port of Oakland's Vision 2000 Program to redevelop the 600-acre Navy fleet industrial supply center. The renovation allowed waterfront views of nearby San Francisco, miles of green shoreline, a beach and a wealth of history and space for learning. The large, consensus-building project formed community based technical advisory and community advisory groups. The complex project's second phase (beach, naturalized area, tower) will be completed in early 2004. There have been more than 10,000 visitors to date since opening in January 2003.

4. Rumsey Band of Wintun Indians - County of Yolo Intergovernmental Agreement - Yolo County: The Rumsey Band of Wintun Indians and Yolo County entered into a unique partnership to negotiate an agreement, which addresses environmental and public health and safety issues associated with the Tribe's casino and hotel development project. The partnership between the Tribe and Yolo County included environmental mitigation for off-reservation and development impacts of the casino and hotel expansion. The agreement duration is 17-18 years, pursuant to compact timeframe, and is termed "unprecedented" in its environmental and economic partnership.

For additional information: http://www.calepa.ca.gov/Awards/GEELA/

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