The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) will celebrate the 40th year of the Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards in 2026 and invites Tennesseans to submit nominations for the upcoming honors.
The awards recognize individuals, businesses and other organizations for their commitment to preserving the state’s natural resources.
“We are always excited to recognize the best environmental stewards in Tennessee, so these awards carry special meaning,” said David Salyers, TDEC commissioner. “It is rewarding to know so many Tennesseans are committed to protecting the environment.”
The honors include 10 categories: Agriculture and Forestry; Building Green; Clean Air and Transportation Solutions; Energy and Renewable Resources; Environmental Education and Outreach; Materials Management; Natural Resources; Sustainable Performance; Water Quality and Lifetime Achievement.
Any individual, business, organization, educational institution or agency is eligible to be nominated, provided it is in Tennessee and the project was fully implemented and/or finalized in the two years prior to Dec. 31, 2025. Nominations can also be for long-term projects finalized by the year prior to the nomination deadline. All nominees must have a minimum of three consecutive years of overall environmental compliance with TDEC. Self-nominations are encouraged.
A panel of judges from the agricultural, conservation, forestry, environmental and academic professions will select award recipients based on criteria including level of project or program completion, innovation and public education. The deadline for nominations is March 13. Award recipients will be announced in the summer.
Published March 2026