The Environmental Protection Agency recently recognized the North Central Texas Council of Governments as one of seven recipients of a SmartWay Affiliate Challenge award for support of policies and practices that reduce truck emissions and improve freight efficiency.
The SmartWay Affiliate Challenge is a national campaign developed by the EPA to acknowledge organizations that participate in SmartWay and do an exceptional job supporting the partnership’s freight sustainability goals. The challenge was open to all affiliates nationwide.
“EPA commends the Affiliate Challenge honorees for their extraordinary level of commitment, enthusiasm and creativity in supporting EPA’s SmartWay program, and sustainable transportation,” says Christopher Grundler, director of EPA’s Office of Transportation and Air Quality. “The work in this arena helps advance the environmental sustainability of commercial transportation and logistics bringing us all closer to achieving the shared goals of efficient goods movement and clean air.
Ten Dallas-Fort Worth area counties are in nonattainment for ozone and have until 2018 to meet the EPA’s standard. The freight industry is crucial to the region’s efforts to clean the air. In the region, 18-wheelers account for 52 tons of nitrogen oxides per day, or about 30 percent of all on-road transportation sources, despite representing only five percent of the vehicle miles traveled in the region.
A SmartWay member since 2006, NCTCOG promotes the initiative throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area and provides education and outreach to potential partners and affected industries through its programs, workshops and webinars.
Additionally, NCTCOG earned recognition, in part, for integrating SmartWay vehicles and technologies in a new Clean Fleet Policy, which 24 entities have adopted. The policy outlines goals and provides workable, cost-effective solutions to reduce ozone-causing pollution from local fleets and support regional efforts to meet the EPA air quality standard.
Along with NCTCOG, the following public and private entities received recognition:
- American Trucking Associations
- Colorado Motor Carriers Association
- Environmental Defense Fund
- Penske Truck Leasing
- Transportation Intermediaries Association
- Wisconsin Clean Cities
The EPA recognized these affiliates at the Transportation Intermediaries Association Capital Ideas and Exhibition Conference in April, during a recent webinar, through social media and on the SmartWay website.
