STONY BROOK, N.Y. – The U.S. Department of Energy honored Greater Long Island Clean Cities Coalition Coordinator Rita Ebert for her dedication and outstanding accomplishments in reducing Long Island's reliance on petroleum in transportation. DOE’s National Clean Cities Director Dennis Smith inducted Ebert into the Clean Cities Hall of Fame on June 24 while in Washington, D.C., where representatives from nearly 100 Clean Cities coalitions from across the country gathered for the national Clean Cities program's 20th anniversary.
Ebert began her work with the Greater Long Island Clean Cities Coalition (GLICCC) in 2007. In 2012 alone, the coalition saved more than 15 million gallons of petroleum and averted more than 35,000 tons of greenhouse gases through the deployment of alternative and renewable fuels, advanced vehicles, idle reduction and fuel economy improvements.
“Rita Ebert has proven herself to be true leader and a mentor to others in the deployment of alternative fuels and advanced vehicles, both in Long Island and nationally,” Smith said. “No matter how great the challenge, she simply will not take 'no' for an answer when it comes to making our transportation sector more sustainable and secure.”
Ebert facilitates and coordinates the efforts of more than 400 fleets, fuel providers, businesses, and other stakeholders on Long Island. In 2009, GLICC and 13 project partners were awarded $15 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds, matched by $20 million from project partners, to deploy more than 150 natural gas vehicles and five fueling stations. Together, GLICCC stakeholders operate more than 1,300 heavy-duty vehicles that run on compressed natural gas (CNG). Many of these fleets were vital to Hurricane Sandy clean-up efforts, when gasoline and diesel fuel shortages hampered operations of conventional vehicles.
GLICCC has also been instrumental in the deployment of other alternative fuels, such as biodiesel, E85 and electricity. The organization and its stakeholders have helped in the development of 21 electric vehicle charging stations on Long Island.
"I've lived on Long Island all my life, and I've been caught on the Long Island Expressway breathing diesel fumes too many times," Ebert said. "I'm thrilled to be involved with an organization that's working hard – and succeeding – to reduce petroleum's impacts on our health, our environment and our economy."
In addition to its work on vehicle and fueling infrastructure deployment projects, GLICCC offers extensive training and educational programs. The organization holds an annual alternative fuels conference for fleets and other transportation decision makers interested in learning about the latest developments and opportunities in fuels and technologies that can help reduce petroleum use. GLICCC has also conducted trainings on CNG maintenance facility requirements, vehicle safety for emergency responders and electric vehicle charging equipment installation. Local school children and their parents may encounter a GLICCC representative providing information on the air quality benefits of reducing vehicle idling at schools.
The Greater Long Island Clean Cities Coalition is a designated member of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Cities initiative. Clean Cities advances the nation’s economic, environmental and energy security by supporting local actions to reduce petroleum use in transportation. A national network of nearly 100 Clean Cities coalitions brings together stakeholders in the public and private sectors to deploy alternative and renewable fuels, idle-reduction measures, fuel economy improvements and emerging transportation technologies. For more information, visit www.cleancities.energy.gov and www.eere.energy.gov/cleancities/hall_of_fame.html.
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