ROSEVILLE, Calif. – Union Pacific Railroad has won the 2010 Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award (GEELA), California’s highest and most prestigious environmental honor.
The award recognizes individuals, organizations and businesses that have demonstrated exceptional leadership for voluntary achievements in conserving California’s resources, protecting and enhancing the environment and building public-private partnerships. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger recognized Union Pacific and other GEELA recipients at a reception at the Governors’ Global Climate Summit in Davis, Nov. 15.
“This honor recognizes Union Pacific’s ongoing commitment to developing new technologies that bolster our environmentally friendly transportation of freight,” said Mike Iden, Union Pacific general director, car and locomotive engineering. “American businesses and consumers depend on Union Pacific to safely and reliably deliver the products they need and use every day. We are proud of our leadership role in developing and implementing new technologies and practices that further our ability to keep America moving with greater environmental efficiency.”
Award recipients were chosen in 10 different categories based on their strength in eight specific areas including results, transferability, environmental impact, resource conservation, economic progress, innovation and uniqueness, pollution prevention and environmental justice. Union Pacific received the award for its pioneering development and use of the low-emissions switch locomotive, the “Genset Switcher.”
