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The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG) presented the First Annual Climate and Energy Leadership Awards to the City of Falls Church, the City of Rockville, Prince William County, and Loudoun County Public Schools for their outstanding efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase energy efficiency.  The awards were distributed at the October COG Board of Directors Meeting by Montgomery County Councilmember and MWCOG Climate, Energy and Environment Policy Committee Chairman Roger Berliner and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Chief of Staff Gwendolyn Keyes Fleming.  The purpose of the awards program is to recognize projects, programs or policy initiatives that help achieve the regional goals identified in the MWCOG 2013- 2016 Climate and Energy Action Plan. 

The award provides an opportunity to foster healthy competition amongst local jurisdictions and stakeholders as well as an opportunity to learn from each other.  All applications were judged on the following four criteria:

• • Results - achievements, outcomes, and/or measured results

• • Creativity - innovative, resourceful, and/or unique aspects

• • Model - transferable to other jurisdictions or organizations and cost-effectiveness

• • Engagement - public/stakeholder/partner engagement and acceptance

 Below is what was read as the description of the LCPS project during the awards ceremony

Video

“Loudoun County Public Schools’ Energy and Environment Program began in 1993. Over 50 schools have earned the ENERGY STAR rating (representing over 60% of their schools and 5.3 million square feet). Over the last 19 years, LCPS has saved over $54 million on utility costs. The cumulative dollar savings is equivalent to hiring over 1,200 first year teachers, or educating over 4,700 pupils for a year, which is significant to taxpayers in Loudoun County. During that same time, energy use reductions represent the elimination of over 290,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions. This is equivalent to removing 52,000 cars from the road for a year or planting 7.5 million tree seedlings and growing them for ten years.”

MWCOG is an independent, nonprofit association where area leaders address regional issues affecting the District of Columbia, suburban Maryland and Northern Virginia.  The 22 Member Jurisdictions of MWCOG include:  The District of Columbia, Bladensburg, Bowie, College Park, Charles County, Frederick, Frederick County, Gaithersburg, Greenbelt, Montgomery County, Prince George's County, Rockville, Takoma Park, Alexandria, Arlington County, Fairfax, Fairfax County, Falls Church, Loudoun County, Manassas, Manassas Park, and Prince William County.

  Pictured Above (L to R):  EPA Chief of Staff Gwendolyn Keyes Fleming, Loudoun County – Dulles District Supervisor Matt Letourneau, LCPS Energy Education Specialist John Lord, and MWCOG Climate, Energy and Environment Policy Committee Chairman Roger Berliner hold the LCPS Climate and Energy leadership Award presented by the Metropolitan Washington Council Of Governments