Release date: 09/30/2011
Contact Information: USEPA - Michael Basile, 716-551-4410, basile.michael@epa.gov; NYSDEC - Michael Bopp, 518-402-8000, mbopp@gw.dec.state.ny.us; Town of Tonawanda - Robert Dimmig, 716-871-8072, rdimmig@tonawanda.ny.us

(New York, N.Y.) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the town of Tonawanda, New York, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the Clean Air Coalition of Western New York and the Empire State Development Corporation signed an agreement to help Tonawanda businesses become more sustainable. The initiative, known nationally as E3 for Economy, Energy and Environment, will provide manufacturers with customized assessments of production processes to enable them to reduce energy use and waste, minimize air pollution, increase productivity and drive innovation. The goal is for companies to create and preserve jobs while protecting the environment and public health.

“EPA supports sustainable business practices that, in turn, create jobs and provide healthier places to live and work,” said, Judith A. Enck, EPA Regional Administrator. “The E3 initiative looks for ways to increase environmental benefits while reducing business costs. Every dollar saved on energy, materials and cleaning up pollution means more money to improve the quality of life for workers and surrounding communities.”

“Minimizing pollution through smart, cost-effective changes in the way products are designed and manufactured protects public health while making companies more competitive,” said DEC Commissioner Joe Martens said. “It can also reduce the cost of regulation for both businesses and taxpayers. DEC is proud to participate in the Tonawanda E3 Sustainability Initiative and support the work of the NYS Pollution Prevention Institute as it works with companies to achieve cleaner air and improve their bottom line.”

Town of Tonawanda Supervisor Anthony F. Caruana said, "The town of Tonawanda is excited to be at the forefront of these efforts to encourage sustainability. The E3 initiative is an opportunity to address the needs of our residents and workforce by providing opportunities for businesses to grow through sustainability efforts and the use of green technology; it helps our environment and our economy. We look forward to working with our partners and remain available to assist businesses with their sustainability needs."

“The improvements that will be made through the E3 program will reduce pollution and improve the quality of life for our members and for workers. Greening our manufacturing base is the kind of economic development we need in Western New York,” said Erin Heaney, Executive Director of the Clean Air Coalition of Western New York.

The organizations participating in the Tonawanda E3 Sustainability Initiative will assist businesses in Tonawanda, NY to reduce pollution at all levels by fostering community involvement and changes in industrial technologies. The organizations will work with businesses to make manufacturing plants more energy efficient and cost effective by offering technical assessments, advice and support. They will work to reduce the environmental impact of manufacturing plants through green manufacturing practices and improvements. The local economy will benefit from jobs that will be created in emerging green industries.

To read the complete details of the agreement and the full text of the E3 charter signed by the partners, please visit: http://www.epa.gov/region02/p2 .

For more E3 information, please visit: http://www.epa.gov/greensuppliers/e3.html .

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