The American Lung Association has been named the 2017 Clean Fuels Champion by Chicago Area Clean Cities, and was honored for championing the promotion of alternative fuels and technologies to reduce vehicle emissions and reduce petroleum usage.

The American Lung Association currently oversees the Clean Air Choice program throughout the United States, which promotes alternative renewable fuels such as biodiesel and E85,  partners with fleets to replace legacy diesel engines, and supports the clean-air advantages of electric and hybrid vehicles, Chicago Area Clean Cities announced in a release.

“Clean Air Choice actions taken by consumers and by commercial and government fleets to decrease vehicle emissions are vitally important to addressing these public-health issues and improving the quality of life in our communities,” said Harold P. Wimmer, national president and CEO of the American Lung Association. “Along with our partners like Clean Cities, our team works extremely hard to encourage the use of clean-vehicle technologies, such as alternative fuels, replacing older engines, and use of electric and hybrid vehicles.”

Other alternative-fuel and electric-vehicle programs the Lung Association oversees include the B20 Club which recognizes Illinois-based fleets running on biodiesel blends of 20% or greater for at least six months of the year; U.S. EPA’s Clean Diesel Program, and the llinois Alternative Fuels Alliance, which consists of organizations that work on clean-air and clean-vehicle solutions in Illinois.

Recent recipients for the Clean Fuels Champion award include the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, Testa Produce, and Ozinga Bros, Inc.