Middletown, PA (October 31, 2024) — The Pennsylvania Turnpike (PA Turnpike) is proud to announce its third, consecutive perfect score from the PA GreenGov Council. Based on a wide-ranging set of sustainability guidelines, the PA Turnpike is the first, and only, agency in the Commonwealth to achieve this rating for three consecutive years.
“We’ve created an organization-wide culture where environmental sustainability practices are incorporated throughout our infrastructure, construction, and maintenance projects. The result has led to some of the most progressive steps taken by a government entity in the state,” said PA Turnpike CEO Mark Compton. “I couldn’t be prouder of my colleagues and department leaders. With their commitment, and the support of resources like the PA GreenGov Council, our goal of becoming America’s First Sustainable Superhighway by 2040 comes closer every day.”
Established by Gov. Tom Wolf’s executive order in 2019, the GreenGov Council supports the Commonwealth’s climate goal of an 80% reduction of net greenhouse gas emissions from 2005 levels by 2050. Housed within the Pennsylvania Department of General Services, it helps integrate sustainability into the Commonwealth’s policies, planning, operations, procurement and regulatory functions.
Each year, all state agencies complete the GreenGov Agency Certification Checklist, a set of approximately 100 standards, grouped into 20 key areas. The comprehensive list covers systematic achievements, such as reducing energy consumption by 3% and improved fleet vehicle efficiency, to active employee culture and engagement initiatives.
“It’s exciting to be recognized again for our focus on meeting the GreenGov standards and the strives we are making for sustainable transportation,” said Keith Jack, Director of Facilities Operations and co-chair of the Turnpike’s Sustainability Committee. “These efforts have made meaningful operational and financial improvements, yielded successful financial gains and contributed considerably to protecting our environment and roadway for years to come.”
Those improvements include:
- Reduction in energy usage, which has yielded in financial savings for the PA Turnpike
- Reduced mowing schedules to allow native plant growth
- Pollinator gardens planted at several service plazas and the Central Administration Building in Middletown, with more to come
- The Greensburg District Maintenance Shed is powered by a massive solar array – with back-up natural gas generator – that is projected to save $400,000-plus a year and allow us to sell energy back to the grid
- A new solar canopy and two additional microgrids in various stages of design
For more than three decades, the Pennsylvania Turnpike has made environmental stewardship and sustainability a top priority. It was the first state agency to achieve three, consecutive 100% scores from the Commonwealth’s GreenGov Council. Its sustainability and stormwater management programs earned two IBTTA Toll Excellence Awards for Social Responsibility. To learn more about the PA Turnpike’s goal of becoming America’s First Sustainable Superhighway by 2040, please visit its website.
Attached Media: Video, Pictures
###
Media Contacts: Marissa Orbanek, Press Secretary; Crispin Havener, Assistant Press Secretary