The Anacortes wastewater treatment plant is alsow being honored as a Gold winner.
During the last four years, Trident Seafoods Anacortes has upgraded and improved refrigeration, lighting, hydraulic, dust collection and exhaust systems. Through these efforts, the company has seen a 20 percent reduction in energy consumption, reduced indoor dust and reduced outdoor odors, while increasing production by 12 percent.
“We know that addressing environmental concerns is the right thing to do, and we’ve demonstrated that it can also pay monetary dividends by reducing costs. The key is adopting a long-term perspective, and that’s the way we look at things,” said Trident Seafoods Anacortes facilities manager Jeff Johnson.
The Northwest Clean Air Agency will present Trident Seafoods Anacortes with a plaque during the agency’s Board of Directors meeting at 1:30 p.m. on March 13.
Partners for Clean Air awards have been presented annually to businesses in Island, Skagit and Whatcom counties since 2010. There are three levels awarded: Platinum, Gold and Silver. This year, 38 of the 407 businesses registered with NWCAA received awards.
NWCAA selects the Platinum winner as the stand-out business among the Gold award winners.
To win Gold, businesses must comply with all applicable air quality regulations for at least three years and employ additional clean air practices in at least two categories: Energy efficiency; emissions reductions; air pollution prevention practices related to their specific business sector; and transportation, such as commute trip reduction, no idle policies and cleaner fleets.
This year’s Gold winners are:
- Crazy Dazy No. 9, Blaine
- Chemtrade Sulex, Mount Vernon
- Sugiyo U.S.A., Anacortes
- City of Anacortes Wastewater Treatment Plant
- Oak Harbor School District
- Safe Harbor Funeral Service, Blaine
- Fairhaven Shipyard, Bellingham
To achieve Silver status, businesses must demonstrate 100 percent compliance with air quality regulations for at least three years. This year, 30 businesses received the Silver award.
“We’re proud to recognize the contribution these businesses are making to our communities,” said Mark Asmundson, Executive Director of the Northwest Clean Air Agency. “Their efforts help protect the air we breathe, and they are exceptional examples of businesses looking out for the environment while looking out for their bottom line.”