WestStart-Calstart, a transportation technologies consortium, has announced the businesses and individuals who have won its Blue Sky awards, which recognize transportation innovations that are environmentally friendly or energy efficient.
The winner of the overall award is Winnipeg, Canada-based New Flyer Industries Limited for its work in implementing alternative fuel and hybrid drive systems for buses.
Florida Power & Light Co. director of fleet services George Survant has earned the Blue Sky Leadership Award for his role in heading the development of a hybrid-electric utility service truck to its current pre-production status. The first utility truck will be delivered to utility fleets in 2005.
The winner of the Blue Sky Innovation Award is Assemblywoman Christine Kehoe, D-San Diego, for her leadership in legislation to reduce California’s transportation-related oil consumption.
The Blue Sky Merit Awards went to three winners:
- Knoxville, TN-based IdleAire Technologies Corp. for developing and expanding its truckstop electrification network.
- Sysco Food Services of Los Angeles for its work to implement a voluntary liquefied natural gas truck deployment program. Its fleet currently operates 53 LNG trucks, with a goal to convert 100% of its fleet to LNG by 2007.
- Santa Clara, CA-based Specialty Solid Waste & Recycling for its fleet of five types of natural gas refuse vehicles and the installation of a public CNG refueling station.