The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment awarded  Colorado electric utility Black Hills Energy with "Gold Leader" status to recognize the company for implementing environmental management systems achieving significant goals in environmental improvement and sustainability.

In addition, the Black Hills Energy's electric and natural gas utilities have received the "24-Karat Gold Challenge Award" for efforts going "above and beyond required job duties in the creation and implementation of a program that has made a measurable contribution to the environment, the economy and society."

The recognition and awards were celebrated October 2nd at the 15th annual Environmental Leadership Program awards ceremony in Denver. The leadership program is the Department of Public Health and Environment's statewide environmental recognition and award program.

"This award recognizes our collective efforts over the past several years in continuing to be effective environmental stewards on behalf of our customers," said Christopher Burke, Black Hills Energy's vice president of Colorado electric utility operations. "We are also honored to join a truly select group of distinguished Colorado companies working hard to enhance environmental quality of life for Coloradans every day."

Black Hills Energy's Colorado electric utility joins the company's Colorado natural gas utility and over 90 other Colorado companies in receiving the Environmental Leadership Program's highest level of recognition.

Gold Leader requirements include having in place a fully operational, facility-specific environmental management system with measurable goals, meeting the "beyond compliance" requirements for the Gold Leader tier and demonstrating five or more years of violation-free environmental performance.  Black Hills Energy's Colorado electric utility is the first electric service provider in Colorado to receive the Gold Leader designation.

As recipients of the Gold Leader Award Black Hills Energy's Colorado electric and gas business units were also recognized by their Gold Leader peers with the 24-Karat Gold Award for the high level of success they have received with their Energy Efficiency Education Program.   The program teaches 6th grade students how to be more energy efficient and empowers them to be the next generation of more educated and aware environmental stewards.

"We are incredibly proud of the Energy Efficiency Education program and the work our team members Kevin Pratt, Gene Mantei and Patricia Hall have done with local school districts", said Susan Bailey, general manager of Black Hills Energy's Colorado gas operations. "Students take these lessons home and help their families become more energy efficient; it's a win-win for everyone."

Black Hills Energy's electric utility achievements are many, including the favorable impact of the company's new state-of-the-art natural gas-fueled electric generation facility, the retirement of a coal generation facility, the utility's successful tree-planting, energy efficiency and weatherization programs, and the company's efforts in environmental education.

"Social responsibility is vital to our role as a good corporate citizen and we take it very seriously," Burke said. "We remain firmly committed to meeting our customers' evolving energy needs safely, reliably and responsibly."

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