The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) is calling for nominations for the 2025 Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards. These awards aim to honor individuals, businesses, and organizations dedicated to preserving Tennessee’s natural resources. Governor Bill Lee emphasized the importance of recognizing efforts to protect the environment, stating that these awards highlight the conservation work being done across the state.
The awards feature ten categories, including Agriculture and Forestry, Building Green, Clean Air and Transportation Solutions, Energy and Renewable Resources, Environmental Education and Outreach, Materials Management, Natural Resources, Water Quality, Sustainable Performance, and Lifetime Achievement. Notably, Transportation Solutions has been added to the Clean Air category, reflecting a consolidation of previous recognitions.
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Eligible nominees include individuals, businesses, organizations, educational institutions, or agencies based in Tennessee. The projects nominated should have been fully implemented within the two years before December 31, 2024, or completed for long-term projects by the year preceding the nomination deadline. Nominees must have maintained a minimum of three consecutive years of environmental compliance with TDEC. Self-nominations are welcome and encouraged.
TDEC Commissioner David Salyers expressed the importance of recognizing outstanding environmental stewards in Tennessee, highlighting that nominations can bring deserved attention to commendable work. A diverse panel of judges will assess the nominations based on project completion, innovation, and public education, among other criteria.
The deadline for submissions is March 14, 2025, and the award winners will be announced in the summer of 2025. For more information and to access nomination forms, interested parties can visit the TDEC website.
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Tennessee Approves $15 Million Loan for Fayetteville Water
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and TDEC Commissioner David Salyers have announced a $15 million loan to enhance Fayetteville’s water infrastructure, sourced from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Loan Program. This loan is part of over $16.2 million in funds approved for multiple Tennessee communities to improve water infrastructure, offering lower interest rates than private financing. The program has provided substantial funding since its inception, addressing the state’s infrastructure needs comprehensively.