Blue Skyways Collaborative

Comments from Blue Skyways Partners

City of Dallas
"We have invested in our environment in reducing emissions in many ways including purchasing alternative fuel/hybrid vehicles, encouraging the use of public transportation and incorporating adjusted work week schedules. This is just the beginning of our efforts. The Blue Skyways Collaborative Community initiative will enhance our ability to continue to look for new ways to make sure that our children and children's children are able to live in and enjoy a clean, smog-free environment for generations to come."
Jill Jordan, Assistant City Manager, City of Dallas

North Central Texas Council of Governments
"Resources such as time and money are extremely critical. Through the varied experiences and shared resources of the collaborative members, we can develop the most efficient and effective emission reductions during this time of limited resources. In joining the Blue Skyways Collaborative, the North Central Texas Council of Governments can achieve cleaner air for the residents of the North Central Texas area."
Chris Klaus, Senior Program Manager, North Central Texas Council of Governments

Caterpillar, Inc.
"Caterpillar's commitment to emissions reduction technology is unsurpassed, as we have invested more than $1 billion in recent years to develop clean-diesel technologies to help our customers meet increasingly stringent emission standards. While the emissions benefits of today's clean diesel engines are well known, there is also a huge opportunity to retrofit existing diesel engines. The Blue Skyways Collaborative provides Caterpillar the opportunity to work with a broad spectrum of public and private partners to encourage voluntary programs for diesel retrofit so our customers can continue to use equipment to make progress possible while improving our environment. We commend EPA for creating collaboratives around the country like Blue Skyways to promote the benefits of retrofit technology."
Ken Katch, Director, Emissions Solutions Group, Caterpillar, Inc.

Port of Houston Authority
"The Blue Skyways Collaborative is a crucial initiative for addressing air quality issues across our geographic region and various industry sectors. The Port of Houston Authority maintains a steadfast commitment to making meaningful contributions to the effort to reduce air emissions at our operational facilities and throughout the maritime industry. The partnership with the Blue Skyways Collaborative is a tremendous opportunity."
Tom Kornegay, Executive Director, Port of Houston Authority

Capital Area Council of Governments
"Over the past several years that CAPCOG has been working with member local government officials on a voluntary clean air plan, known as the Early Action Compact, great strides have been taken toward enlisting local governments to actively participate in a regional approach to improving air quality. With CAPCOG's membership in the Blue Skyways Collaborative we expect to build on that success with enhanced partnership opportunities to bring innovative air quality improvement strategies to our region."
Betty Voights, Executive Director, Capital Area Council of Governments, Austin Area

City of Houston
"The City of Houston is excited to join the Blue Skyways Collaborative because of the opportunities it presents to work with our colleagues from other parts of the country who are also addressing challenging air quality issues. While many of our issues in Houston are unique, we view this Collaborative as an important vehicle for solving local problems with the help of a broad-based group of stakeholders."
Elena M. Marks, JD, MPH, Director of Health Policy, City of Houston

Texas General Land Office
"The Texas General Land Office's energy program encourages the use of alternative transportation fuels like natural gas and develops sustainable energy through our first-in-the-nation offshore wind leases and model solar energy project in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Blue Skyways will help with our comprehensive, regional goals for air quality and economic development."
Soll Sussman, Project Coordinator, Texas General Land Office

Mid-America Regional Council
"The Mid-America Regional Council Air Quality Forum is very pleased to be part of an effort that will provide cleaner air not only for residents of metropolitan Kansas City, but for the entire central United States."
James Joerke, Air Quality Program Manager, Mid-America Regional Council

MidAmerican Energy Company
"The efforts of the Blue Skyways Collaborative make good business sense and will improve the environment in which we live. MidAmerican Energy is pleased to partner with public and private sector participants to foster a successful Blue Skyways effort."
Steven C. Guyer, Director Environmental Services, MidAmerican Energy Company

Texas Transportation Institute (TTI), Texas A&M University
"Research, implementation, evaluation, and outreach play key roles in helping address the air quality issues facing North America's Heartland. Becoming a Blue Skyways partner is a natural tie with TTI's research program since we are currently working on a national deployment strategy for truck stop electrification which will reduce emissions generated from trucks idling at truck stops."
Dr. Katherine Turnbull, Associate Director, Texas Transportation Institute

Peterbilt Motor Company
"Peterbilt is pleased to partner with the Blue Skyways Collaborative, and we look forward to working together on new initiatives to help reduce diesel emissions through aerodynamic, fuel efficient vehicles and innovative, emerging technologies."
Dan Sobic, General Manager and PACCAR Vice President, Peterbilt

East-West Gateway Council of Governments
"We look forward to being an active partner in EPA's new Blue Skyways Collaborative, which is going to provide our region with effective voluntary emission programs. The Blue Skyways Collaborative will enable the St. Louis metropolitan region to greatly expand current efforts to cleanup school bus fleets and develop our infant alternative fuels industry."
Steve Nagle, Planning and Information Systems, East-West Council of Governments

Earth Biofuels, Inc.
"Earth Biofuels is committed to reducing America's dependence on foreign oil and to improving air quality through the production and distribution of renewable fuels such as biodiesel and ethanol. As viable alternatives to petroleum, these agriculture-based fuels are better for the environment, better for the economy, and better for American farmers."
Dennis McLaughlin, CEO, Earth Biofuels, Inc.

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