Environmentally conscious businesses, organizations and individuals have until Jan. 30 to apply for the 2012 Governor's Environmental Excellence Award, the Department of Environmental Protection said.

The award is open to any Pennsylvania business, government agency, educational institution, individual or farm that has created or participated in the development of a project that promotes environmental stewardship and economic development.Eligible projects include environmental technology innovation, clean energy innovation, pollution prevention and resource efficiency, community revitalization, environmental education or outreach, watershed stewardship and mine safety, among others.Projects will be evaluated based on applicants' demonstration of how their project will protect the environment; teamwork; public service; environmental education and outreach; pollution prevention; economic impact, including potential job creation; and the use of innovative technology.The project must have been completed between Aug. 1, 2010 and July 31, 2011. While each candidate may submit only one application for a particular project, companies with multiple facilities or multiple projects may submit an application for each facility or project. Projects that have previously received a Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence are not eligible for this award, though past winners may submit applications for new projects for consideration.Applications for the award can be found at

www.dep.state.pa.us by clicking the button on the front page, "Apply for the Governor's Environmental Excellence Awards."Projects should be submitted by 5 p.m. on Jan. 30, via email to RA-EPgovenviroawards@pa.gov.For assistance with completing the application, call (717) 783-8727.