Each year at the National Clean Cities Conference, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) presents awards to fleets, Coalitions and Coordinators involved in the Clean Cities Program. At this year's conference, Linda J. Graham, Director for the Puget Sound Clean Cities Coalition, received recognition with the Coordinator Excellence Award for the Seattle/Western region. This honor was given to one coordinator in each of the 7 Department of Energy regions across the United States.

Linda J. Graham (middle), Director of the Puget Sound Clean Cities Coalition, is pictured here with Roxanne Dempsey, Clean Cities Program Manager for the Department of Energy and Rick Ruvolo, Coordinator for the San Francisco Clean Cities Coalition, who received the Coordinator of the Year Award. Ms. Dempsey presented the awards at a ceremony conducted in the character of the Academy Awards.

Linda was recognized for her work in leading the Puget Sound Clean Cities Coalition to a particularly boastful year and for consistent efforts in moving the Coalition towards its goals. 

Roxanne Dempsey, Clean Cities Program Manager for DOE in the Seattle Regional Office, presented the award. In making the presentation, Ms. Dempsey outlined some of the achievements of Linda and the Coalition:

"The number of AFVs grew in the region by 1,000 - a 42 percent increase over the previous year! Under her stewardship, ten fleets have committed to 100% AFV use and five of those have more than 100 AFVs. With her efforts, a military base in the area added CNG, biodiesel and ethanol refueling stations to support their 250 AFVs. She was instrumental in decisions to use biodiesel in transit buses and city fleets, and in the state's decision to test biodiesel in ferries. Linda has played a key role in bringing significant grant funds from the federal government and other sources to the Coalition and its members. She has also worked with the state legislature to implement legislation to provide incentives to increase alternative fuel and vehicle use. Linda has drafted legislation, obtained legislative sponsors, spoke at hearings, organized strategies with stakeholders, and worked diligently to educate legislators. Linda has also been successful in securing significant media attention for the Coalition and its members, with more than 50 articles appearing in the local and national media last year."

Linda's hard work and that of the Coalition's many members is a powerful combination that has made the Puget Sound Clean Cities Coalition a great success.

Puget Sound Coalition Honored at National Clean Cities Conference For the second year in a row, the Puget Sound Clean Cities Coalition has ranked among the top ten performing Clean Cities organizations in the country. This designation is determined by the Department of Energy based on numerous factors, including the Coalition's ability to increase the number of alternative fuel vehicles and refueling stations. The Coalition's progress in 2003 placed it among the top ten out of 83 Clean Cities organizations around the country.