Westport Innovations, Waste Management, Inc. and Congressman Steve Israel were honored with 2011 Energy Vision Leadership Awards from Energy Vision, a national non-profit devoted to clean, renewable petroleum-free fuels.
The awards were presented at the organization’s 5th Anniversary Celebration in Manhattan on Nov. 17. The event was co-chaired by EV board members Blythe Danner and Brendan Sexton, and by Clean EnergyCEO Andrew J. Littlefair.
“Energy Vision’s leadership and efforts to spotlight successful clean fuels initiatives have advanced natural gas for transportation in the U.S.,” said David Demers, CEO of Westport Innovations. “The organization’s work to engage stakeholders and decision makers has helped drive the shift to low-carbon gaseous fuels, cleaner cities and energy security.”
Westport Innovations was honored for its work in developing technologies to operate heavy-duty vehicles on natural gas or waste-based renewable natural gas. In a co-marketing agreement with Shell, Westport is offering a convenient package of fuel and LNG vehicles, plus service and vehicle maintenance. Westport LD recently unveiled the new natural gas Westport WiNG Power System, an advanced, integrated, bi-fuel system for passenger and commercial vehicles targeting fleet customers. The initial application will be available in the Ford F-250 and F-350 Super Duty pickup trucks.
Waste Management was recognized for surpassing 1,000 natural gas trucks in operation. The company, in partnership with Linde North America, is working to pioneer a renewable form of natural gas made from landfill gases.
“As a company, Waste Management is committed to sustainability and environmental protection,” said John Morris, vice president for Waste Management’s Mid-Atlantic area. “While we are helping to make our communities greener places to live, we are also working to improve the sustainability of our own operations. That’s why we have made a corporate commitment to increase the fuel efficiency of our vehicle fleet by 15% and reduce emissions by 15% by the year 2020.”
Israel, recipient of Energy Vision’s Public Sector Energy Vision Leadership Award, represents New York’s 2nd Congressional District, which includes the Long Island communities of Huntington, Babylon, Islip, Smithtown and Oyster Bay. He was honored for a decade of work backing policies supporting renewable energy and alternative vehicle fuels on the local and national levels. In 2009, Israel supported the request that provided almost $15 million in funds under the Federal Reinvestment and Recovery Act, to support five natural gas fueling stations and the deployment of 87 CNG vehicles.
“Only with the willingness of business leaders such as Westport and Waste Management to look beyond their immediate bottom line, to envision how their skills can help create a sustainable future and to devote the resources needed to this task – and only with the willingness of government leaders such as Congressman Israel to promote innovation, will this country move toward a sustainable future,” said Energy Vision president Joanna Underwood.
