VALPARAISO – Northwest Indiana Partners for Clean Air honored the Region’s top air quality leaders and winners of two college scholarships at the organization’s 2023 awards luncheon on Friday.
“On behalf of Partners for Clean Air, we congratulate all of the recipients on your awards and scholarships,” said Cathy Csatari, director of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management’s Northwest Regional Office. “By their voluntary actions, each recipient has encouraged others to support clean air. We look forward to seeing our bright scholarship winners continue their success in future endeavors.”
Four recipients received awards for voluntary actions taken to improve air quality in 2022. The Partners for Clean Air Steering Committee selected winners from nominations submitted earlier this year.
G.E. Marshall received the Business Award for replacing four diesel excavators and one port drayage truck with new Tier 4 diesel equipment that will reduce their annual emissions by 2.579 tons of nitrogen oxide and 46.8 tons of carbon dioxide. Tier 4 is the highest level of emissions certification for on and off-road diesel engines. G.E. Marshall is a family-owned construction contractor that provides operators and equipment for high-level projects in Indiana and surrounding states, including projects for the Indiana Department of Transportation and several municipalities, commercial retail complexes, residential developments and medical facilities. In addition, the 60-year-old company provides excavation, grading, underground utility, and demolition services.
Voss Equipment/Cleveland-Cliffs received the Industrial Award for upgrading the Trackmobile railcar mover at Cleveland-Cliffs’ Indiana Harbor steelmaking facility in East Chicago. By reducing the consumption of diesel fuel, the upgrade is expected to result in an annual emissions reduction of 693 lbs. of nitrogen oxide and 8.6 tons of carbon dioxide. Voss Equipment is a contractor for Cleveland-Cliffs.
The City of Portage received the Municipal Award for successfully implementing several projects that improved air quality, reduced waste, increased energy efficiency, and reduced municipal operating costs. In 2022, the city began transitioning its refuse and recycling fleet to clean-burning, compressed natural gas (CNG) by replacing seven diesel trucks. As a result of this project, Portage will save 0.703 tons of nitrogen oxide and 226.7 tons of carbon dioxide from polluting the city’s air each year.
Jerry Jackson from La Porte received the Mark Siminski Bicycle Award for his work on the La Porte County Family YMCA’s Tour de La Porte committee. The Tour de La Porte is a walking, running, and cycling event that raised nearly $53,000 to support the YMCA’s mission. In addition, Jerry has served on the planning committee to expand the Chessie Trail through the city and county, eventually connecting into a trail system from Illinois to Michigan. A lifelong La Porte resident, Jerry enjoys participating in long-distance bike races and serves as the La Porte Utilities Wastewater Department director. As such, Jerry was instrumental in the wastewater treatment plant’s transition to solar power two years ago, which saved enough electricity to power 150 homes.
Two winners each received a $2,500 scholarship in the competitive essay contest judged by Partners for Clean Air Scholarship Committee members. Since 2020, Partners for Clean Air has awarded over $25,000 to 10 local students to help support their post-secondary educational efforts. This year’s scholarship winners are:
- Kallum Timm from Michigan City High School. Kallum plans to study nuclear engineering at Oregon State.
- Brayden Blouir from Chesterton Senior High School. Brayden plans to study entrepreneurship at Indiana University.
Indiana Department of Environmental Management Commissioner Brian Rockensuess provided an agency update during his keynote address.
“Public-private partnerships led by coalitions like Partners for Clean Air are the driving force behind continued air quality improvements in Northwest Indiana,” said Rockensuess.
The Partners for Clean Air Luncheon and Award Ceremony was sponsored by Partners for Clean Air Gold Members (Cleveland-Cliffs Inc., Drive Clean Indiana, GAF, Gary SouthShore RailCats, Metro Recycling, Michigan City Sanitary District, NiSource, Northwestern Regional Planning Commission, and Telamon Energy) and Silver Members (Hammond Port Authority, Keramida, Inc. and Linde).
