Seven vehicle fleets around the region have been selected as Northern Stars of New England by the New England Clean Cities Coalitions for their efforts in cutting carbon emissions, reducing the use of petroleum, and promoting and utilizing alternative fuels to power their vehicles.The fleets selected include the City of Boston Massachusetts, the City of Nashua New Hampshire, Oakhurst Dairy in Maine and New Hampshire, the University of Vermont, the Greater Portland Transit District (METRO) in Portland, Maine, Newport Biodiesel in Newport, Rhode Island, and Malloy Energy in Cumberland, Rhode Island. Each fleet demonstrated a deep commitment to the goals of the Clean Cities program through use of alternative fuels, alternative fuel vehicle purchasing, and petroleum reduction practices.
The designation as a Northern Star required that the fleets be a stakeholder in their local Clean Cities Coalitions and that they meet a list of criteria showing their commitment to Clean Cities initiatives.
The Vermont Clean Cities Coalition presented the award to the University of Vermont Transportation Services which manages the campus’s bus fleet. The University was chosen because of their commitment to alternative fuels and alternative transportation options. The award ceremony took place on Church Street in Burlington in front of City Hall with representatives from the Burlington Sustainability Partnership which includes the City of Burlington, UVM, UVM Medical Center, Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce, Champlain College, Burlington Business Association and Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission. Chris Saunders, a staff member in Senator Leahy’s office, also spoke on behalf of the Senator highlighting the Senator’s efforts to curb climate change and help build a sustainable transportation system. Jim Barr, Director of UVM Transportation and Parking Services accepted the award and was recognized by the speakers for his drive to reduce UVM’s carbon footprint.
Burlington City Hall. From left to right: Glenn McRae, Associate Director of UVM Transportation Research Center;Joe Speidel, UVM Community Relations Office; Jim Barr, Director of UVM Transportation and Parking Services (Award Recipient); Abby Mattera, VT Clean Cities Coordinator; Chris Saunders, Office of Senator Leahy; Jennifer Green, Sustainability Coordinator, Burlington Community and Economic Development Office. PhotoCredit: Zack Borst, UVM Transportation Research Center
The Northern Stars of New England program was funded through a U.S. Department of Energy grant that identified barriers to the proliferation of alternative fuels and how to remove them. There are nearly one hundred Clean Cities Coalitions around the country whose purpose is to help reduce the use of petroleum, cut emissions, and promote alternative fuel options. The Northern Stars program was developed by the five Northern New England Clean Cities Coalitions and is just one of the ways that these coalitions promote the use of alternative fuels in fleets.
This project is funded by a U.S. Department of Energy grant awarded to Maine Clean Communities, a program of the Greater Portland Council of Governments (GPCOG), and other Northern New England Clean Cities Coalition grant partners.
Source: Burlington, VT,April 8, 2015–UVM Transportation Research Center.More information on the Northern Stars program can be found on the Vermont Clean Cities Coalition website atwww.uvm.edu/vtccc.
VERY TOP PHOTO: Church Street, Burlington, VT. Organizations represented: City of Burlington, the University of Vermont, UVM Medical Center, Champlain College, the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Burlington Business Association, the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission, Local Motion, CATMA, Senator Leahy's Office, American Lung Association, and the UVM Transportation Research Center. Photo Credit: Zack Borst, UVM Transportation Research Center