Metro and Foothill Transit just picked up an award from the South Coast Air Quality Management District for “Promotion of Good Environmental Stewardship.”

The award honors Metro’s switch to 100 percent alternative fuels earlier this year, which made it the first major transit agency in the world to operate only CNG-fueled buses. Here’s the excerpt from the news release:

Award for Promotion of Good Environmental Stewardship – Foothill Transit and Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA):

Foothill Transit, which serves 21 cities in the San Gabriel and Pomona valleys, began purchasing CNG buses in 2002 and has almost exclusively purchased CNG buses ever since. Foothill aims to have a 100 percent Clean Air fleet by 2013. Foothill Transit also has deployed three zero-emission fast-charge Ecoliner buses since 2010. In addition to having zero tailpipe emissions and using renewable energy, the Ecoliner’s unique structure, recyclable batteries and long life make its carbon footprint one of the lowest of any transit buses today.

When MTA officially retired its last diesel bus in January 2011, the public transit agency became the nation’s largest operator of a compressed natural gas fleet with 2,221 buses. Metro’s emission reduction efforts have brought about an 80 percent reduction in cancer-causing particulates and a reduction in greenhouse gases by more than 300,000 pounds a day. In addition, Metro has been an environmental steward in other ways, with the largest solar panel installation in the transit industry.

The entire news release from the AQMD is after the jump.

AQMD TO HONOR CLEAN AIR LEADERS AT ITS 23rd ANNUAL
CLEAN AIR AWARDS LUNCHEON, OCT.7

LOS ANGELES—The South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) on Friday, Oct. 7 will host its 23rd Annual Clean Air Awards, honoring individuals and businesses, public agencies and non-profit organizations for making significant contributions to cleaner air in the Southland.

The luncheon will be held in the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. Vera Jimenez, KTLA-TV weather and traffic reporter, will emcee the event.

“From an organization that plants trees to a manufacturer that builds all-electric cars, this year’s honorees demonstrate their creativity and commitment in showing us there are many ways we can improve our air quality,” said AQMD Governing Board Chairman William A. Burke, Ed.D. “Their actions speak to the difference that one person or organization can make in cleaning the air.”

AQMD’s 2011 Clean Air Award winners are:

Award for Advancement of Air Pollution Technology – Nissan, AC Propulsion, Staples, Inc.: In 2010, Nissan introduced in the United States the ground-breaking five-door hatchback all-electric Nissan LEAF (Leading, Environmentally friendly, Affordable Family car). In the LEAF, Nissan focused on developing an electric vehicle (EV) that could be mass-produced at affordable prices for mainstream consumers.

The LEAF produces no tailpipe or greenhouse gas emissions. It ranks as one of the most efficient vehicles certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Among its many awards, the Nissan Leaf was named the 2011 “World Car of the Year” at the New York Auto Show.

“For two decades,” USA Today reported in a 2010 feature article, “AC Propulsion (ACP) held a quiet off-stage seat in electric-vehicle development. Today, with EVs thrust to the forefront of the automotive industry and with virtually every automaker sporting an electric-car project, AC Propulsion has become an important behind-the-scenes player.” No longer in the background, the San Dimas-based company today stands in the forefront of electric-vehicle drive technology. It produces patented electrical vehicle drive systems and provides engineering services and technology licenses to clients throughout the world. ACP designed the voltage controller used in the original GM Impact prototype/EV1. Vehicles using an ACP electric powertrain include the ACP tzero, the eBox, the BMW Mini E, the Tesla Roadster and the Volvo 3CC concept car.

Last year, Staples, Inc. added 53 all-electric delivery trucks to its fleet of 2,000 vehicles in North America. Thirty of those trucks operate in the Los Angeles area. They have a range of up to 100 miles, a top speed of 50 mph and are ideally suited for short-range urban delivery service. In addition to the clean air benefit, the cost savings are significant. Staples also demonstrated its environmental commitment in 2008 and 2009 by retrofitting lighting in 675 U.S. stores, improving energy controls, upgrading equipment in its distribution facilities and implementing other energy conservation projects, resulting in a savings of more than 55,000 Megawatt-hours annually.

Award for Advancement in Innovative Transportation Projects – Cascade Sierra Solutions and Cal Cartage: The mission of Fontana-based Cascade Sierra Solutions (CSS) is to conserve natural resources and enhance public health through freight transportation energy efficiency improvements and emission reductions. Working with AQMD and the California Air Resources Board, CSS has facilitated state grant programs such as the Prop. 1B-funded truck replacement and engine exhaust retrofit effort. To date, through the efforts of CSS, more than 4,152 vehicles have been upgraded, resulting in a fuel-savings of 12.2 million gallons.
Cal Cartage operates the largest port drayage company in Los Angeles County. In June 2006, the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach adopted a Clean Air Action Plan calling for a 50 percent reduction in port-related pollution within 5 years. In response, Cal Cartage implemented the California Cartage Company Natural Gas Port Truck Project, the largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) truck deployment project in the nation. Its efforts resulted in a lease-to-own program with 350 LNG trucks currently serving the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. Cal Cartage plans to add an additional 50 natural gas trucks to its operation, representing nearly 50 percent of all alternative fuel trucks in the San Pedro Bay Ports.

Award for Model Community Achievement – Awarded jointly to City of Pasadena, Pasadena City College, and Caltech: The City of Pasadena adopted its Green City Action Plan in 2006. The results have been dramatic. More than one million square feet of green buildings were approved for construction in 36 building projects. The signature achievement was the top-to-bottom renovation of Pasadena’s historic city hall, built in 1927. The building, employing low-toxic and recycled materials, now uses 20 percent less energy and operates on 100 percent green power. Pasadena Water & Power’s efforts have helped customers save more than $2 million in energy costs and increased the city’s renewable energy supply. The city aims to reduce the need for imported water by 20 percent by 2020.
Pasadena City College (PCC), partnering with Pasadena Water & Power, deployed low-emission Capstone 60-kilowatt microturbines used for the first time ever to heat a swimming pool. The efficient and clean natural-gas-fired turbines not only heat the pool, but also produce 120,000 watts of electricity. In addition, PCC over the past decade removed several acres of asphalt and transformed its campus from a collection of buildings and parking lots to pleasant walkways and sitting areas by planting more than 500 trees.

Caltech has also worked aggressively and creatively to bring about energy reductions. In 2009 and 2010, Caltech implemented a wide range of complex energy efficiency projects that resulted in an annual energy savings of 8.3 million kilowatt-hours, equivalent to $1.3 million in utility cost savings. In 2009-2010 alone, these projects reduced Caltech’s greenhouse emissions by more than 6,000 metric tons, and reduced deferred maintenance costs by more than $1 million.
Award for Public Education of Air Quality Issues – Tree People and The Inland Empire Asthma Coalition: Andy Lipkis founded TreePeople as a nonprofit environmental organization in 1973. Since then it has informed and educated thousands with Eco-tours, workshops, teacher training and fairs on environmental issues such as air quality. Its Center for Community Forestry is visited by nearly 70,000 annually. Its 45-acre educational campus offers displays and programming to teach visitors from preschool-age children to adults on how to bring about a more sustainable environment. In 2010, TreePeople conducted Eco-tours for more than 10,000 visitors, reached more than 367,000 secondary school students by its teacher-led service learning and organized the volunteer planting of 28,300 trees in urban and mountain areas.

In a nation where asthma is the leading cause of school absence and results in more than 5,500 deaths a year, the Inland Empire Asthma Coalition of Riverside and San Bernardino Counties joined forces to change those statistics. The coalition works to improve the quality of life of asthmatics through education, advocacy and the coordination of its resources. The organization inaugurated its annual asthma conference three years ago. Its Asthma Friendly Schools program has been adopted by five San Bernardino Unified School District schools. The coalition also offers professional education programs including Physician Asthma Care Education (PACE) and Medical Assistant Training. It also created an English/Spanish teaching tool.

Award for Promotion of Good Environmental Stewardship – Foothill Transit and Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA): Foothill Transit, which serves 21 cities in the San Gabriel and Pomona valleys, began purchasing CNG buses in 2002 and has almost exclusively purchased CNG buses ever since. Foothill aims to have a 100 percent Clean Air fleet by 2013. Foothill Transit also has deployed three zero-emission fast-charge Ecoliner buses since 2010. In addition to having zero tailpipe emissions and using renewable energy, the Ecoliner’s unique structure, recyclable batteries and long life make its carbon footprint one of the lowest of any transit buses today.

When MTA officially retired its last diesel bus in January 2011, the public transit agency became the nation’s largest operator of a compressed natural gas fleet with 2,221 buses. Metro’s emission reduction efforts have brought about an 80 percent reduction in cancer-causing particulates and a reduction in greenhouse gases by more than 300,000 pounds a day. In addition, Metro has been an environmental steward in other ways, with the largest solar panel installation in the transit industry.

S. Roy Wilson Memorial Award for Leadership in Government: James D. Boyd, Commissioner and Vice Chair, California Energy Commission:

In 2011, Jim Boyd reached the milestone of 50 years in public service, including serving 15 years as the executive officer of the California Air Resources Board, directing the nation’s largest state air pollution control program. During his tenure in that position, CARB led the nation in establishing new and innovative pollution control programs for motor vehicles and fuels, toxic air contaminants, consumer products, and industrial and area sources. Prior to his appointment as energy commissioner, Boyd served as deputy secretary and chief of staff of the California Resources Agency. He created and chaired the state’s first Joint Agency Climate Change Team and the state’s Natural Gas Working Group. Boyd currently presides over the Energy Commission’s Transportation Committee and serves on the Board of Advisors of the University of California Davis’ Institute of Transportation Studies. He serves on the Governor’s Climate Action Team and as the Energy Commission’s representative on the Steering Team of the California Fuel Cell Partnership, and has served on the Governor’s Hydrogen Highway Network Implementation Advisory Panel. He oversees the implementation of AB 118, which established an Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program at the Energy Commission.

The award recognizes Boyd’s contributions in the spirit of the award’s namesake, former Riverside County Supervisor and AQMD Governing Board Vice Chairman S. Roy Wilson, Ed.D., who passed away in August 2009.

Robert M. Zweig, M.D., Memorial Award – Jonathan M. Samet, M.D., M.S.
Professor, Keck School of Medicine of USC:

Dr. Samet, a pulmonary physician and epidemiologist who has studied the human health effects of air pollutants for 40 years, is professor and Flora L. Thornton chair for the Department of Preventive Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC and director, USC Institute for Global Health. He also serves as chair of the national Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee, set up under the Clean Air Act to provide independent advice to the U.S. EPA Administrator on the scientific and technical basis for setting national ambient air quality standards. From 1994 through 2008, Dr. Samet was professor and chairman of the Department of Epidemiology of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. He holds an M.D. from the University of Rochester, an M.S. from the Harvard School of Public Health, and an A.B. in chemistry and physics from Harvard College. Dr. Samet’s epidemiological research has focused on the health risks of inhaled pollutants, and he has also investigated the occurrence and causes of cancer and respiratory diseases. He has served on numerous committees concerned with using scientific evidence for the development of policy to protect public health, including the Science Advisory Board of the U.S EPA.