CROWN POINT, IN – South Shore Clean Cities recently recognized region leaders for their commitment and support of alternate fuels during the group’s annual meeting.

Among those honored with 2012 South Shore Clean Cities Stakeholder Awards at the Feb. 14 event were the City of Michigan City, the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission (NIPRC), U.S. Steel Corp., Tube City IMS, and Cindy Lundquist.

Michigan City was cited for outstanding achievement in supporting alternate fuels. In 2011, the city used more than 147,000 gallons of a biodiesel blend in more than 135 pieces of municipal equipment, keeping more than 261,000 lbs. of carbon dioxide and 106 tons of particulate matter from the atmosphere. The City was also lauded for its use of electric, propane, and synthetic oils, which have reduced maintenance intervals on city vehicles from every 3,000 miles to every 6,000 miles.

NIPRC received the award for outstanding achievement in promoting alternate fuels and diesel emission reductions for its work to apply federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality funds to alternative fuel vehicles. As a result, 210 vehicles were bought by local governments in the last two years. The funds have also been used for alternative fuel infrastructure and fuel purchases.

U.S. Steel Corp. was honored for outstanding achievement in corporate leadership of implementing alternative fuels and reducing diesel emissions for its use of biodiesel blends since 2007. The efforts have led to the reduction of millions of gallons of foreign oil used at the Gary Works facility, according to South Shore Clean Cities, as well as cleaner air in Northwest Indiana. U.S. Steel was also commended for its use of natural gas vehicles and fueling infrastructure and the addition of clean locomotives.

Tube City IMS received the South Shore Clean Cities Innovation Award for bringing hybrid locomotive technology to Northwest Indiana, marking the second locomotive of its kind in the U.S., according to South Shores Clean Cities. The Tube City project is expected to reduce diesel usage by more than 26,105 gallons.

Cindy Lundquist was lauded for outstanding achievement in leadership and dedication to South Shore Clean Cities for her work with South Shore Clean Cities since 1997. Lundquist has raced two compressed natural gas cars on the National Hot Rod Association Circuit across the U.S.