KINGSTON, R.I. – April 8, 2015 – Malloy Energy in Cumberland and Newport Biodiesel in Newport have been recognized by the University of Rhode Island’s Ocean State Clean Cities Coalition for their commitment to cutting carbon emissions, reducing the use of petroleum, and promoting and utilizing alternative fuels to power their vehicles.

The companies are among seven vehicle fleets around New England to be selected as Northern Stars of New England by the New England Clean Cities Coalitions. Others recognized are the City of Boston, the City of Nashua, N.H., Oakhurst Dairy in Maine and New Hampshire, the University of Vermont, and the Greater Portland Transit District in Portland, Maine.

“Malloy Energy and Newport Biodiesel show what an amazing impact small business can have in our state. Both companies stand out as regional leaders in the alternative fuel industry,” said Wendy Lucht, Ocean State Clean Cities coordinator.

Malloy Energy and Newport Biodiesel were selected for the award because 100 percent of their vehicle fleets run on biodiesel. Malloy’s vehicles used nearly 7,800 gallons of biodiesel fuel instead of diesel in 2014, while Newport Biodiesel vehicles used approximately 7,500 gallons of biodiesel. Executives from both companies also serve on the board of directors of Ocean State Clean Cities and have hosted stakeholder meetings at their facilities.

Each of the award-winning fleets 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 stakeholders in their local Clean Cities Coalitions and that they meet a list of criteria showing their commitment to Clean Cities initiatives.

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 100 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.

The program is funded by a U.S. Department of Energy grant awarded to Maine Clean Communities, a program of the Greater Portland Council of Governments, and other northern New England Clean Cities Coalition grant partners. The Ocean State Clean Cities Coalition receives programmatic support from the URI Energy Center and has been promoting alternative fuels in Rhode Island since 1998.

Click here for more information about Ocean State Clean Cities or contact Wendy Lucht at 874-2792 or wlucht@uri.edu.

Pictured above

(Northern Star Fleet): Wendy Lucht (third from left), coordinator of Ocean State Clean Cities Coalition, poses with award winners (l-r) Chris Benzak and Bob Morton of Newport Biodiesel and Tom Malloy Sr., Jim Malloy and Tom Malloy Jr. of Malloy Energy.

(Newport Biodiesel: Wendy Lucht, coordinator of Ocean State Clean Cities, presents the Northern Stars of New England award to Bob Morton and Chris Benzak of Newport Biodiesel.

(Malloy Biodiesel): Wendy Lucht, coordinator of Ocean State Clean Cities, presents the Northern Stars of New England award to Jim Malloy, Tom Malloy Sr. and Tom Malloy Jr. of Malloy Biodiesel in Cumberland.

Photos by Michael Salerno.