The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency honored Consumers Energy with the National Partnership for Environmental Priorities  (NPEP) Achievement Award on Oct. 19 for significantly reducing elemental mercury and mercury containing equipment.

“On behalf of Consumers Energy's 8,000 employees, I'm proud to receive this award for our multi-year effort to reduce mercury-containing equipment,” said Bill Beckman, manager of environmental and laboratory services.

Early in 1996, Consumers began the Mercury Pollution Prevention Initiative. Since the program’s beginning, nearly 70 percent of the company’s mercury – more than 1,700 pounds – has been replaced and recycled.