U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman and U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon have received the 2007 Ground Water Protector Award from the National Ground Water Association (NGWA). The Ground Water Protector Award recognizes people in government, industry and the private sector for their public service in conjunction with ground water conservation, protection and use.

Bingaman, chairman of the Senate’s Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, is being recognized for his leadership in the nationally vital issue of water sustainability and promotion of water science. “The availability of fresh water is becoming increasingly important both here and abroad as we confront water scarcity problems. Senator Bingaman’s leadership and priority in water sustainability issues is much needed in these times,” says NGWA government affairs committee chairman Alan Eades. “Likewise, the senator’s commitment to sound science as the basis for development of water policy serves our nation well.”

Gordon, who and serves on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, was recognized, in part, for his sponsorship of a bill to provide a business tax credit for the installation of energy efficient geothermal heat pump systems that would advance the nation’s energy independence and promote environmental stewardship. “In a time when America’s energy independence is more important than ever, geothermal heating and cooling just plain makes sense,” NGWA’s Eades says. “We applaud Representative Gordon’s leadership in supporting the geothermal tax credit.”