The Environmental Protection Agency presented its 10th annual Clean Air Excellence Awards for 2009 honoring 14 organizations and one individual for reducing pollution, promoting environmental education and creating green products and jobs throughout the United States. In Washington state, Puget Sound Energy was recognized for its Air Quality Education/Outreach program.

The program, named “Powerful Choices for the Environment,” aims to change the way middle school students in western Washington think about air quality in their ecosystem.

Environmental educators from Puget Sound Energy partner with 18 local agencies to deliver a four-day program that works with students through a series of hands-on, inquiry-based activities that focus on local air quality, waste reduction, and energy and water use.

Now in its 16th year, the Powerful Choices program reaches over 17,000 6th-8th grade students in more than 90 schools throughout the Puget Sound region.