Triboro Ecodistrict Energy Projects Win Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence

Due to its significant progress towards net zero carbon emissions by the year 2050, the Triboro Ecodistrict will be awarded a 2023 Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence for multiple solar, conservation, and resilience projects throughout Millvale, Etna, and Sharpsburg.

With each planning effort, the three communities have found ways to reduce their community’s carbon-footprint energy consumption through beautiful and high performing places, programs, and initiatives, including: Millvale Food + Energy Hub, Solar Arrays on Key Community Buildings, Solar Workforce Development & Education Program, Energy Audits, Artful Energy Demonstrations with LAGI Studio, Accelerating Solar Investment Study, Triboro Energy Baseline Study, Municipal Local Climate Action Plans, Solar Powered Community Gardens, Sharpsburg Critical Facilities Solar-Powered Microgrid Feasibility Study, G.E.T. Solar Joint Bidding Program, and Allegheny Solar Cooperative Research. 

Every energy-related effort has been carefully considered for its potential to provide cost savings, reduce energy consumption, increase adoption and understanding of renewable energy, increase community resilience, and to achieve equitable outcomes by reducing the energy burden for community members. 

As long-time collaborators with the Triboro Ecodistrict, we have worked together to set aspirational carbon reduction goals that reflect community values and priorities,
said Anna Rosenblum, Associate at evolveEA,
The community’s success implementing energy projects has already contributed significantly toward their vision for a net zero future.

With 63% of Pennsylvania’s energy coming from extractive fossil fuels, which contributes to health issues and climate change, transitioning to clean and affordable options like solar energy can reduce these negative impacts while keeping more money in the pockets of residents and key partners who support them. 

Excerpt – click to open the complete report

The Pennsylvania Environmental Council will honor the winners of the Governor’s Awards on April 25, 2023 in Harrisburg. 

In 2021, the Triboro Ecodistrict received a Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence for the Breathe Easy Project, and the Etna EcoDistrict received the award in 2020.

Learn more about the Triboro Ecodistrict Energy Study in this blog post by New Sun Rising