“We are very excited about this program that rewards members for their leadership in protecting Mississippi’s environment. There are many entities in Mississippi doing good work and achieving standards beyond their permit requirements. We believe those facilities should be recognized for their leadership,” said Trudy Fisher, MDEQ Executive Director. “In these economic times, the companies that can adapt, save energy, save costs, save materials, and are more environmentally aware are the ones that are more competitive and better prepared to face challenges.”

Fisher noted that savings examples from the first class of enHance members included:

●52 million kBTU of energy savings;

●10 tons of air emissions reductions;

●149 tons of materials recycled or diverted from landfills; and,

●2,300 tons of material reused.

The new enHance members were recognized at a luncheon in Jackson Wednesday. The day also included training co-sponsored by the Mississippi Manufacturers’ Association entitled: “Lean, Green, and Clean – Doing More, Better with Less Materials, Energy, and Waste.”

enHance’s 2010 class includes:

Leader

Caterpillar High Performance Extrusions (Oxford)
Naval Construction Battalion Center (NCBC) (Gulfport)
Southern Natural Gas - Pickens Station (Pickens)

Steward

Columbus Brick (Columbus)
Leaf River Cellulose, LLC (New Augusta)
Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding (Gulfport)
Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems (Ocean Springs)
Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding (Pascagoula)

Associate

GDF Suez Choctaw Gas Generation (Ackerman)
GDF Suez Red Hills Power Plant (Ackerman)
Gulf States Manufacturers - a Nucor Company (Starkville)

Information about the program is available at: http://www.deq.state.ms.us.