Navy, Marine Corps Garner Energy Awards

Seventeen Navy and Marine Corps Energy Teams and an individual energy manager have been singled out for conserving energy, saving money and avoiding pollution in FY2001. The Navy's Shipboard Energy Conservation Team (ENCON) is the winner of a rare Presidential Award. The award winners represent Navy activities, ships and Marine Corps bases. Their efforts avoided the consumption of many thousands of MBtus of electricity, gallons of fuel, and tons of pollution, easing the strain on natural resources and demand for new power plants. Those earning praise for their conservation performance were identified through a worldwide Federal awards program conducted annually by the Department of Energy's Federal Energy and Water Management Program (FEMP) and another by the Secretary of The Navy (SECNAV). The official announcements will be made this week at functions in Washington, DC. DON Secretary Gordon England applauded the work of the energy teams, noting the link between their performance and the fight against terrorism. "It is clear that our enemies would like to see America in disarray. It must vex them that, instead, we have pulled together. Our energy conservation performance is a powerful symbol of that. Our men and women could not have been faulted for setting energy concerns aside in a time of war. Instead, they've focused on the future, saved resources, and made the Navy and Marine Corps-indeed the entire nation-stronger for their work," he said. The Department of Navy (DON) is the most energy-intense Federal entity. Through the work of its energy teams, it has reduced its energy use by more than 26 percent since 1985, saving more than a half-billion dollars, avoiding air and water pollution. It is on track to reduce its energy use 35% by 2010. Assistant Secretary of Navy, Installations and Environment, H. T. Johnston underscored the important role of the average sailor and engineer in energy conservation. "Hundreds of men and women ashore and aboard ships worked hard to earn awards for their energy teams. But they've also brought passion to the promise of energy savings. Collectively, they are the face of the Department of Navy's determination to lead the nation in reducing energy consumption, preventing pollution, and giving taxpayers a break. We are proud of them," he said.