ALPHARETTA, Ga. – Atlanta-based Neenah Paper announced it has received a 2009 national Green Power Leadership Award from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  The EPA co-sponsors the Green Power Leadership Awards in conjunction with the United States Department of Energy (DOE) and the Center for Resource Solutions (CRS) to recognize the leading actions of organizations, programs, and individuals that significantly advance the development of green power sources.

Neenah Paper was one of only 10 companies in the United States to be named a Green Power Purchaser at the 2009 awards ceremony held in Atlanta on Sept. 14 in conjunction with the Renewable Energy Markets conference.

"Neenah Paper is honored to be recognized by the EPA for our efforts to help reduce our impact on the environment," said John Gray, director of engineering and energy at Neenah Paper.  "At every turn, we want to make meaningful choices that conserve our natural resources.  Green power purchasing is one way we can help to accelerate the nation's transition to cleaner renewable energy."

Green Power Purchasers are recognized by the EPA for their outstanding leadership through purchases of green power from a utility green-pricing program, a competitive green marketer or a renewable energy certificate (REC) supplier.  Neenah Paper's energy purchase consists of environmentally preferable, renewable sources of energy such as wind and biomass, which have little to no impact on the environment and produce no net greenhouse gas emissions in generating electricity.  

Neenah Paper has been a green power purchaser since 2005 and, in 2006, became a member of the EPA's Green Power Partner Leadership Club, a program that recognizes organizations for voluntarily purchasing a higher percentage of green power than minimum partnership requirements. 

Since its initial purchase of green power, Neenah Paper has continued to expand its commitment to the environment and the purchase of green power is now only a piece of Neenah's overall commitment.  The remainder is reflected throughout the entire operation of the company, including Neenah's investment in Forest Stewardship Council Chain of Custody Certification, Green Seal Certification, and most recently, their participation in the EPA SmartWay Transport Partnership. 

"We continue to look for ways to be a leader in sustainability and to meet international standards for socially responsible behavior," noted Gray.  "It not only helps us reach our sustainability goals, but encourages others to make a shift to cleaner sources of electricity."

For more information on the company's sustainability initiatives, visit the Neenah Green Web site for more information, www.neenahpaper.com/NeenahGreen.