Herndon, Va. The District Department of the Environment (DDOE) has awarded Washington Gas Energy Services, Inc. (WGES) a 2013 Mayor's Sustainability Award. Presented last night during a ceremony at the National Museum of Women in the Arts, the award recognizes outstanding businesses for environmental stewardship, pollution prevention and resource conservation practices that help build a greener, healthier, more sustainable future for the District of Columbia.
"The District is taking its place as a national and international leader in urban sustainability, because of the innovative ideas and civic commitment of people who care deeply about our community and our environment," said Mayor Vincent Gray. "Our Sustainable DC Plan outlines the key challenges we face as a community: growing jobs and our economy; ensuring health and wellness; promoting equity and diversity; and protecting the climate and our local environment. The actions of our award winners will ensure we meet these challenges-they are creating a greener, healthier, and more livable city today, and for generations to come."
WGES is one of the largest green energy suppliers in the District. Residential, commercial and municipal customers can reduce the environmental impact of their energy usage through WGES CleanSteps® WindPower, sourced from regional wind farms, and WGES CleanSteps® Carbon Offsets, which offset greenhouse gas emissions from natural gas use. Earlier this year, Washington, D.C. government agencies began using 100 percent WGES CleanSteps® WindPower for their electricity needs. Annually, the positive environmental impact of all WGES customers in DC is equivalent to removing more than 447,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere or taking more than 93,000 cars off the road.
"We are honored to be recognized by Mayor Gray with this award for our role in supporting the District as it becomes the greenest city in the nation," said Harry Warren, president of Washington Gas Energy Services. "In addition to helping our business, municipal and residential customers meet their sustainability goals, Washington Gas Energy Services is committed to minimizing our own environmental impact, and we applaud the District Department of the Environment as well as the other award recipients for their leadership in this area."
WGES collaborates with a variety of organizations throughout the city that are working towards goals identified in the Sustainable DC Plan, including the DowntownDC Business Improvement District and the DC EnvironMentors Fair. Internally, WGES is focused on reducing its environmental impact with initiatives such as sustainable printing, telecommuting, volunteering for and supporting tree plantings and obtaining LEED certification for its headquarters.
For more information on the 2013 Mayor's Sustainability Awards, visit DDOE.
About Washington Gas Energy Services, Inc.
Washington Gas Energy Services, Inc. is one of the largest competitive providers of electricity and natural gas in the mid-Atlantic region and supplies more than 350,000 customers in Maryland, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Pennsylvania and Virginia. In 2011, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) named WGES the Green Power Supplier of the Year in the non-utility category. Headquartered in Herndon, Va., Washington Gas Energy Services is an affiliate of Washington Gas Light Company and a subsidiary of WGL Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:WGL). www.wges.com
Media Contact:
Washington Gas Energy Services
Lisa Fels
703-739-2424 x110
lfels@brightlinestrategies.com