Local leaders and companies honored at the Clean Air Partner Awards Luncheon.

Press Release, Indiana Department of Environmental Management:

HAMMOND, INDIA – Northwest Indiana Partners for Clean Air honored regional air quality leaders and winners of three college scholarships at the organization’s annual awards luncheon on Friday at Hammond Marina.

“On behalf of Partners for Clean Air, we congratulate all award and scholarship recipients,” said Michele Murday-Pariso, director of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management’s Northwest Regional Office. “Through their support, each recipient encouraged others to support initiatives or projects that lead to cleaner air across our region.”

Four winners received awards for voluntary actions taken to improve air quality in 2023. The Partners for Clean Air Steering Committee selected the winners from nominations submitted earlier this year.

Telamon Energy received a Business Award for installing over 255,000 kWdc of solar power across the United States. Telamon Energy is an energy consultant leading the Midwest in providing energy solutions for facilities, communities and utilities. The company uses its platform as a solar developer to raise clean energy awareness and help customers in Northwest Indiana transition to more efficient energy solutions.

Dave Dorsett, Electric Vehicle Account Manager at Kerlin Bus Sales and Leasing, Inc. received an industry award for his work with the Clean School Bus Initiative. Dave has played a key role in helping school bus principals transition to electric and clean diesel buses, providing knowledge and educational resources to schools, fleet managers, teachers and parents.

City of Valparaiso Department of Municipal Services received a city award for leading a “Sustainable Solar Project” that installed 772 solar panels on City of Valparaiso facilities and saved taxpayers over $5.2 million in electricity costs by providing clean, renewable solar energy. The panels are mounted on the roof of three sewage treatment plants, the Municipal Services building and the historic City Hall. Visitors to City Hall can see real-time energy usage data and may notice that meters roll back when more energy is produced and harvested than is used. To see the project in action, watch the video at tinyurl.com/ValpoSolar.

Bob Huffman of Munster received the bicycle award. Marek Siminski for his advocacy efforts. Bob has been a staunch advocate for bicycle safety in Northwest Indiana for over 30 years. In 2004, Bob was one of the founding members of Calumet Citizens for Connecting Communities (C4), formed specifically to address the need for increased pedestrian and bicycle improvements. Over the years, Bob has attended public meetings in many regional communities to promote the quality of life benefits of trail development. Bob also created his own website to inform visitors about the best places to bike in Northwest Indiana, which ultimately led to the creation of the first non-motorized bicycle map in 2007 by the Northwest Indiana Regional Planning Commission (NIRPC). Bob continued to advocate for better solutions. and safer non-motorized transportation in Lake, Porter and La Porte counties, as well as his hometown of Munster, Indiana.

In addition to the prizes, each of the three winners received a $2,500 scholarship through a competitive essay contest judged by members of the Partners for Clean Air Scholarship Committee. Since 2020, Partners for Clean Air has provided more than $32,500 to 23 local students to support their postsecondary education efforts. The winners of this year’s scholarships are:

• Melanie DeVries of Hanover Central High School. Melanie plans to study cardiovascular technology at the University of South Carolina in Columbia.
• Melissa Cook from Chesterton High School. Melissa plans to study environmental engineering at Purdue University.
• Mackenzie Calinski from Lake Central High School. Melissa plans to study environmental science at Indiana University in Bloomington.

Indiana Department of Environmental Management Commissioner Brian Rockensuess provided an update on the agency during his keynote address.

“Every year, businesses, industries, government entities, community groups and individuals voluntarily go above and beyond regulatory requirements in an effort to improve air quality in Northwest Indiana,” Rockensuess said. “Not only are they improving our environment, they are also investing in our future.”

The Partners for Clean Air Platinum Luncheon and Awards Ceremony was sponsored by Partners for Clean Air Platinum Members (Drive Clean Indiana, GAF, Gary SouthShore RailCats, Northwestern Regional Planning Commission and Telamon Energy); Gold Members (Cleveland-Cliffs Inc., Metro Recycling and NiSource); Silver Members (Hammond Port Authority, Keramida, Inc. and Linde); and bronze members (LaPorte County Health Department, Lochmueller Group, Inc., Porter County Health Department and Union Township Trustee’s Office).

Northwest Indiana Partners for Clean Air presented awards and scholarships to air quality leaders at the annual awards luncheon held in the Clipper Room at Hammond Marina on Friday, June 14, 2024. Pictured (from left): Charles Breitenfeldt, IDEM Northwest Regional Deputy Director of the Office (NWRO); Michele Murday Pariso, director of IDEM NWRO; Dave Dorsett, manager of bus sales and electric vehicle leasing at Kerlin; Greyson Lemmons, 2022 PCA Scholarship Winner, Melissa Cook, 2024 PCA Scholarship Winner; Scott Nelson, Telamon Energy chief development officer; and Brian Rockensuess, IDEM Commissioner.

About Clean Air Partners: Partners for Clean Air is a coalition of businesses, industries, local governments, community groups and individuals committed to improving overall air quality and public health through voluntary action. Clean Air Partners program members develop Air Quality Action Plans to be implemented during Air Quality Action Days to reduce harmful pollutants.