For Immediate Release:
September 1, 2016
Contact:
Rick Price, Coordinator
Pittsburgh Region Clean Cities
412-735-4114
U.S. Department of Energy Honors Pennsylvania Leader for Success in Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Petroleum Use in Transportation
Pittsburgh Region Clean Cities Coordinator Rick Price Inducted into Clean Cities Hall of Fame
PITTSBURGH – The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) honored Pittsburgh Region Clean Cities Coordinator Rick Price for his dedication and outstanding accomplishments in reducing Pennsylvania’s production of greenhouse gas emissions and dependence on petroleum in transportation. DOE’s National Clean Cities Co-Director Linda Bluestein inducted Price into the Clean Cities Hall of Fame on Thursday, September 1 while in Knoxville, Tenn., where representatives from nearly 100 Clean Cities coalitions from across the country gathered for the 2016 Clean Cities Coordinator Workshop.
Price began his work as Executive Director of Pittsburgh Region Clean Cities in 2011, and has been a proponent of alternative fuels and the Clean Cities program throughout western Pennsylvania for almost 15 years. In 2015 alone, Price’s coalition averted more than 7,000 tons of greenhouse gases and saved more than 4.9 million gallons of petroleum through the deployment of alternative and renewable fuels, advanced vehicles, idle reduction, and fuel economy improvements.
“Rick is a master at winning grants, and when I have questions I go to him,” Bluestein said. “He’s been instrumental at bringing alternative fuel vehicles to the state of Pennsylvania, to the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), and the DOE. He brings enthusiasm and passion to his work, and serves as an inspiration to others as to what can get done.”
During his tenure as coordinator, Price has become known for the passion and enthusiasm he brings to his work, as well as his ability to connect the right people required to make a project successful. He has also demonstrated immense skill in leading efforts focused on educating a variety of audiences about the benefits and importance of using alternative fuels and advanced vehicles and technologies. In 2014, Price spearheaded the inaugural Tri-State Alternative Fuel Conference and Expo, which was the first educational trade show and conference of its kind in the area to promote the use of alternative energy sources in an effort to revolutionize the transportation industry, boost local and national economies, and protect the environment. Additionally, Price created a hugely successful partnership with the Community College of Allegheny County to provide alternative fuel vehicle training, and regularly hosts stakeholder fuels and vehicles trainings, National Drive Electric Week events, and workshops aimed at helping fellow coordinators secure project grants.
“It’s such an honor to be inducted,” Price said. “The most important part about this job is to have a passion for what you’re doing. I believe in the mission of Clean Cities, and that’s a big part of the success of our coalition.”
Prior to becoming coordinator of Pittsburgh Region Clean Cities, Price retired from the DOE after 37 years of service. While at the DOE, he worked for 20 years as an Organizational Property Management Officer for the NETL in Pennsylvania, during which his duties included serving as the Motor Vehicle Manager of an 82-vehicle fleet.
Pittsburgh Region Clean Cities is a designated member of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Cities program. Clean Cities advances the nation’s economic, environmental, and energy security by supporting local actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and cut petroleum use in transportation. A national network of nearly 100 Clean Cities coalitions brings together stakeholders in the public and private sectors to deploy alternative and renewable fuels, idle-reduction measures, fuel economy improvements and emerging transportation technologies. For more information, visit cleancities.energy.gov and cleancities.energy.gov/hall-of-fame.
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