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News Releases from Headquarters›Air and Radiation (OAR)

Exemplary Clean Air and Climate Initiatives Win EPA Honors

04/20/2015
Contact Information: 
Christie St.Clair (stclair.christie@epa.gov)
202-564-2880

WASHINGTON - This week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is honoring seven projects for their work on clean air and climate initiatives, including investment in alternative fuel vehicle fleets, business partnerships to reduce pollutants, and air quality education and outreach. The 2015 Clean Air Excellence Award recognizes innovative state, local, tribal, and private sector programs that protect health and the environment, educate the public, serve their communities and boost the economy.

"Communities across the country have cleaner air and better protected health thanks to these award-winning programs," said Janet McCabe, acting assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Air and Radiation. "We're celebrating Earth Day a little early by recognizing these cutting-edge efforts to educate their communities, cut harmful air pollution, improve public health and make our environment healthier and more sustainable."

From an innovative public education program in the Delaware Valley to comprehensive air quality and health services for Alaskan tribes, award winners demonstrate a commitment to protecting health, reducing air pollution and addressing climate change. This year's winners are:

Clean Air Technology
Penske Truck Leasing - Clean Air Technology Commitment - Penske Truck Leasing Co. LLP

Penske has been assisting customers with alternative fuels for over two decades, and today has an alternative fuel vehicle (AFV) fleet of over 500 natural gas, hybrid, propane and electric vehicles ranging from tractor-trailers, straight trucks, buses and delivery vehicles. Additionally, Penske has demonstrated and encouraged partnership in the EPA's SmartWay Transport Partnership for over seven years, participating as an affiliate, truck carrier, and logistics partner. Penske is removing barriers to improve driver and fleet acceptance of low-emission technologies to reduce pollutants and greenhouse gases.


Community Action
Clean Air Partners Program - CLEAN AIR Force of Central Texas
Club Ride Commuter Services - Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada

The CLEAN AIR Force of Central Texas developed the Clean Air Partners Program in 2001 after learning most pollutants that create harmful ground-level ozone come from on-road vehicles. Today there are 40 partners, including corporations, nonprofits and governments, representing 100,000 employees. By becoming a partner, employers volunteer to implement clean business practices and reduce emissions that contribute to unhealthy air. Many of the strategies used also save employers and employees time and money. The Clean Air Partners Program assists employers in reducing emissions with a flexible menu of options, including employee education, alternative commutes, use of cleaner fleets, clean energy practices, green power sources, low-emission construction, water conservation, and other proactive measures that contribute to cleaner air. The program is currently reducing approximately 10,000 commuters from our roads today, leading to less traffic and less air pollution.
 

Club Ride is a free program of the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada designed to improve air quality and encourage commute alternatives such as riding transit, carpooling, vanpooling, walking, bicycling, working compressed work weeks, and telecommuting. Club Ride partners with nearly 300 employers and more than 24,000 registered commuters in Clark County to meet these goals. Club Ride's 2014 highlights include: 59 tons of carbon monoxide emissions reduced; 2,324 tons of greenhouse gases reduced; over 1 million clean commute trips reported; 5.9 million miles removed from the road; and $1,616,931 in commuter cost savings.


Education and Outreach
Air Quality Partnership of the Delaware Valley - Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission


The Air Quality Partnership of the Delaware Valley (AQP) has been actively educating the public in the Greater Philadelphia region about ways to reduce emissions that lead to ozone pollution and fine particle pollution (PM2.5) since its formation in 1997. The AQP is a program of the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission and consists of a coalition of agencies, businesses, and non-profits. The Partnership's network of members, employees, and stakeholders encourage voluntary actions to reduce emissions by taking alternative forms of transportation, conserving energy in the home, educating the public about wastefulness of idling vehicles, and sharing ways to reducing emissions while refueling, among other efforts. For example, the organization worked with their partners on an anti-idling campaign that resulted in the creation of an online idling reporting platform (www.idlefreephilly.org).


Regulatory and Policy Innovations
Oil and Gas Emission Reduction Initiative - Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment


In 2014, the State of Colorado adopted new rules to further minimize air quality impacts associated with oil and gas development. Colorado's rules expand upon existing state law and EPA's recent New Source Performance Standards. The rules were developed after an extensive stakeholder process lead by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, working closely with diverse partners. A broad coalition of industry, environmental and local government stakeholders supported the rules, which were adopted by Colorado's Air Quality Control Commission.


Transportation Efficiency Innovations
Fleet Hybrid Electric and All Electric Vehicle Program - County of Sonoma Fleet Operations

The County of Sonoma has been a leader in transportation related emission reductions in California for more than 24 years. Starting in 1990 the County tested a prototype all-electric van in a fleet environment. Fleet related GHG emissions have been reduced by over 1,815 tons even though overall vehicle miles traveled increased by 10 million miles during the last 11 of 13 years. The County's investment in hybrid electric and all electric vehicle technology has resulted in one of the largest BEV, HEV, NEV and PHEV government fleets in North America. The hybrid fleet has reduced gasoline and diesel fuel usage by over 166,500 gallons while traveling over 10 million miles since 2002.


Gregg Cooke Visionary Program Award
Environmental Health Consultation - Tribal Air Quality Program - Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium

As part of the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC), the largest tribal health organization in the United States, the Environmental Health Consultation Team (EHC) provides cutting-edge air quality services to improve the lives of Alaska Native people and their communities. The EHC Statewide Tribal Air Program delivers technical consultation, air monitoring assistance, training, assessment, funding, and overall support to tribal communities throughout Alaska to address air quality concerns. The program has engaged in over 20 locally-led air quality projects and completed over 50 community air quality assessments which have reduced criteria air pollutants, raised greater public awareness of air quality, and enhanced tribal capacity to address local air quality issues.


The awards program, established in 2000 at the recommendation of the Clean Air Act Advisory Committee, recognizes and honors both individuals and organizations that have undertaken the risks of innovation, served as pioneers in their fields, advanced public understanding of air pollution and improved air quality. Entries are judged by EPA and the Clean Air Act Advisory Committee, and winners will be recognized at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. on April 21, 2015.

More information: http://www.epa.gov/air/cleanairawards/index.html