February 16, 2006

The Department of Environmental Quality announced today that it has nominated two candidates, Mackinaw Power, LLC, and the Automotive Services Association of Michigan for the 2006 National Small Business Recognition Awards. These awards are given by the Small Business Ombudsman and Small Business Assistance Programs nationwide, and the National Compliance Advisory Panel, along with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Small Business Ombudsman. Mackinaw Power was nominated for the Small Business Environmental Stewardship Award, and the Automotive Services Association of Michigan was nominated for the Small Business Trade Association Environmental Leadership Award.

“I am pleased to nominate these organizations who clearly share our belief that a healthy environment and a healthy economy go hand in hand,” said DEQ Director Steven E. Chester. “They are helping Michigan lead the way in environmentally sound business practices.”

Mackinaw Power, LLC, of Lowell, Michigan is a privately funded commercial wind power farm project. It currently has a 1.8 megawatt wind farm in Mackinaw City, generating more than 9 million kilowatt hours of electrical power. Wind farms are one of the fastest growing alternative sources of electrical power generation in the U.S., and do not contribute to the creation of air pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides. Upon hearing of his company’s nomination for the Small Business Environmental Stewardship Award, Mackinaw Power’s President, Richard F. Vander Veen, III, expressed his appreciation by saying, “this is an honor in itself.”

The Automotive Services Association of Michigan, which was nominated for the Small Business Trade Association Environmental Leadership Award, is a trade association of over 380 independent collision and mechanical repair shops. The association has been a leader in the education of their membership regarding environmental stewardship, and has recently partnered with the DEQ to develop a comprehensive multimedia resource for their members entitled, Auto Body - Michigan Environmental Compliance Assistance Self-Audit Guidebook and Checklist. Upon hearing of their nomination for this award, Ron Meyer, President of the Automotive Services Association’s Michigan chapter stated that the association was “…proud and honored to be nominated for the Small Business Trade Association Environmental Leadership Award. This recognition highlights the cooperative effort between ASA and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, and is a great example of business and government working together for the greater good.”

Winners of the 2006 National Small Business Recognition Awards will be recognized at the National SBO/SBAP Conference at the Mt. Washington Resort in New Hampshire, March 26 - 30, 2006.

Editor’s note: DEQ news releases are available on the department’s Internet home page at www.michigan.gov/deq.

“Protecting Michigan’s Environment, Ensuring Michigan’s Future”

Revised February 16, 2006 by Pat Watson