East Tennessee Clean Fuels recognize Kingsport for leadership in alternative fuels effort
Knoxville, TN ‚¬ East Tennessee Clean Fuels Coalition (ETCleanFuels) is pleased to announce the winners of the 2013 Davy Crockett Volunteer Spirit Award‚¬â€an accolade presented to alternative fuel leaders in the region. This years three recipients‚¬â€a municipal government, a Fortune 500 Company, and a local nonprofit‚¬â€have all benefited their communities, state and nation by reducing petroleum consumption, improving air quality, and educating the public on the benefits of cleaner fuels. The three awardees are the City of Kingsport, Eastman Chemical Company, and Black Bear Solar Institute (BBSI) and were all recognized at a luncheon in Knoxville on Tuesday.
Jonathan Overly, ETCleanFuels Executive Director, said in praising their volunteer spirit, These three organizations have distinguished themselves over a period of years as courageous champions of alternative fuels in our region. The City of Kingsport, Eastman and Black Bear Solar Institute have each thought strategically, engaged with experts, endeavored to lead where others have not, and gained regional and/or national recognition for their work and insight.
The City of Kingsport is being recognized for its continuing support of alternative fuels and, in particular, its leadership as Tennessees largest, municipal propane fleets. In 2008, the City of Kingsport set a course for using cleaner fuels has gradually been growing their propane fleet, including the citys police cruisers which operate on a bifuel propane system. Last year the city saved roughly $1 per gallon by using propane.
In addition to propane, the city has also had the foresight to include plug‚¬in electric vehicles in its fleet and install public electric charging stations for its citizens. As fleets around the region begin their own conversion initiatives, they can look to the City of Kingsport as an example and learn from their leadership and experience.
Eastman is a longtime supporter of alternative fuels and the East Tennessee Clean Fuels Coalition. Years of steady progress and a willingness to explore emerging technologies have positioned this Fortune 500 Company as East Tennessees largest user of biodiesel (over 610,000 gallons of biodiesel blends in 2012 alone). In addition to regular fleet use, Eastman also has the notable designation of being the only company in Tennessee to intentionally run its locomotives on this cleaner, more sustainable fuel. As many other organizations and individuals are beginning to do, Eastman has also incorporated electric and plug‚¬in electric vehicles into its businesses, signaling a broad interest in transportation efficiencies and clean air solutions.
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