South Shore Clean Cities Recognizes 5 with 2012 Stakeholder Awards

South Shore Clean Cites Inc. recognized individuals, businesses and municipalities during the 2012 annual meeting for their efforts in implementing alternative fuels and lowering toxic emissions.

The inaugural Stakeholder Awards were presented by Carl Lisek, executive director. He said the awards recognize the results of preserving and revitalizing northern Indiana through promoting the use of clean fuels and clean-vehicle technologies.

"The five honorees have proven that strengthening the economy and implementing environmentally cleaner sources of power are not mutually exclusive," said Lisek, who also is an executive at Purdue Research Park-based Legacy Environmental Services Inc. "My colleagues at South Shore Clean Cities and I are pleased to recognize their longstanding support of reducing the nation's dependence on imported petroleum and contributing to its environmental, economic and energy security."

The honorees were:

• City of Michigan City, represented by Charlie Cates. "The city utilized more than 147,000 gallons of biodiesel blend in 135 pieces of municipal equipment, including refuse packers, fire engines, sanitation equipment, transit buses, street trucks, off-road heavy equipment, LaPorte County ambulances and generators," Lisek said. "The city reduced its CO2 emissions by 261,000 pounds and particulate matter emissions by 106 tons in 12 months."

• Cindy and Charlie Lundquist. "The Lundquists have been involved with South Shore Clean Cities since it began," Lisek said. "They have worked tirelessly in promoting our mission while racing on the National Hot Rod Association circuit."

• Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission, represented by Kathy Luther. "NIRPC has fought for the right to program federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality funding for alternative-fuel vehicles. More than 200 vehicles have been purchased by local governments with this funding over the last two years," Lisek said. "NIRPC currently has more than $10 million in federal funds programmed for local Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality projects in the 2011-2015 Transportation Improvement Program."

• Tube City IMS LLC, represented by Pete Gage. "Tube City, in cooperation with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management and South Shore Clean Cities, has implemented hybrid locomotive technology," Lisek said. "Through Tube City's due diligence, this is only the second locomotive of its kind in the country. It will reduce diesel usage by more than 26,000 gallons within a year."

• United States Steel Corp., represented by Jim Alexander. "U.S. Steel has been utilizing blends of biodiesel in its facility since 2007, which translates to a reduction of millions of gallons of foreign petroleum," Lisek said. "U.S. Steel also implemented natural gas vehicles and fueling infrastructure, as well as implemented clean-locomotive applications within their facilities."

Lisek said South Shore Clean Cities remains strong with the support of individuals, companies and municipalities like the five inaugural Stakeholder Award winners.

"There are new technologies yet to be discovered and implemented by the government and industry that will strengthen the country," he said. "By prudently encouraging use of these innovations, South Shore Clean Cities stands with its shareholders to keep Indiana among the leaders in clean fuels and clean-vehicle technologies."