Aerojet solar farm wins state tech award

Gov. Asa Hutchinson presented the first-ever Arkansas Technology Award on Friday to Aerojet Rocketdyne for its solar farm in East Camden.

The solar farm, owned and operated by Silicon Ranch Corp. of Nashville, Tenn., generates enough power to supply 30 percent of the defense contractor's needs at its Highland Industrial Park facility. It's the largest operating solar facility in the state, said Becky Keogh, director of the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality.

FTN Associates of Little Rock and Goodwill Industries of Arkansas were also finalists for the award, which is nicknamed "TECHe."

Keogh said the new award was in line with Hutchinson's emphasis on computer coding and advanced technology.

During the ceremony, Hutchinson, who grew up on a farm, said his dad taught him to respect the environment.

"If you're going to make your living on the farm, you've got to protect the land -- and you've got to value the land -- just a simple, practical, fundamental point," he said.

Hutchinson said he greatly respected former President Theodore Roosevelt, a conservation proponent who established the U.S. Forest Service and placed millions of acres under federal protection.

The governor also said that the Department of Environmental Quality exists to be responsive to business as well as protect the environment.

He said Keogh has reduced the agency's size while shrinking an air quality permit backlog by 50 percent.

"We have to value and conserve our natural resources," Hutchinson said. "If we do not do that, we're limited in our ability to accomplish other objectives in this state."

During Friday's ceremony, Keogh also presented the Envy Award, also known as the Arkansas Environmental Stewardship Award, to the Kraft Heinz Co. facility at Fort Smith.

She said the plant achieved "zero landfill status" in 2012 by recycling or reusing all waste produced at the plant, reduced material usage by converting from glass to plastic jars in packaging and reduced electricity use.

Central Arkansas Water, the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas, Lockheed Martin and the YEA! Team of Saline County, also known as Youth Environmental Ambassadors, were finalists for the award.

"This award ... [is] not unlike the Arkansas Traveler certificate, when that is presented. It comes not only as recognition of your efforts, but also a challenge to go out and be an ambassador for your goodwill and good works across our state and even across the nation," Keogh said.

Metro on 04/23/2016

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