On April 2, Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) accepted the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Air Excellence Award for 2014, which honors innovative programs that benefit communities, the environment, and the economy. NAFA President and FPL Fleet Services Manager Claude Masters, CAFM, and In-Home Technologies and Electric Vehicles Director Brian Hanrahan accepted the award on FPL’s behalf during the ceremonies held in Washington, D.C.
The EPA recognized FPL’s deployment of fuel-efficient vehicle technology; an important part of the utility’s overall efforts to provide electric service to its 4.7 million customers throughout Florida.
The event took place prior to Masters’ announcement of NAFA’s Sustainable Fleet Standard Program, a bold new NAFA initiative developed in conjunction with CALSTART, on the opening day of the 2014 I&E in Minneapolis, MN, on April 8. The serendipitous timing was not lost on NAFA’s Chief Executive Officer Phillip Russo, CAE. “It absolutely proves that NAFA is moving in the right direction. The Sustainable Fleet Standard Program really comes from Claude’s vision and the vision of other fleet professionals who not only see sustainability as viable, but essential. That the two (events) should fall so closely together just speaks to recognition of a reality that is in front of the business world, and a position NAFA wants to be at the vanguard of.”
FPL operates one of the largest sustainably responsible fleets in the nation with approximately 1,750 biodiesel-powered vehicles and 550 electric and hybrid electric vehicles. In 2013 alone, FPL’s clean-vehicle fleet saved 682,000 gallons of petroleum fuel and prevented more than 6,800 tons of carbon dioxide emissions.
“Doing the right thing is its own reward,” said Masters of the honor, “but when it does occur, it crystallizes everything that you have done up to that point and proves its value. The EPA’s recognition of Florida Power & Light’s efforts proves that NAFA’s Sustainable Fleet Standard is an idea whose time has come.”
The company’s typical 1,000-kwh residential customer bill has been the lowest among Florida’s fifty-five electric utilities and approximately twenty-five percent below the national average for the past five years straight. At the same time, the company’s power plant system continues to be one of the cleanest emissions profiles among utilities nationwide.
NAFA’s Sustainable Fleet Standard Program is now in beta-phase. More information is available on the program-dedicated webpage: www.NAFASustainable.org.
