(Madison, WI, October 30, 2012) – Through a grant provided by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Leonardo Academy continues to help reduce emissions from older, less efficient vehicles throughout the country. Partnering with Coca-Cola Refreshments and United Parcel Service (UPS) who contributed over $3.2 million to this project, this award helped fund the replacement of 40 heavy duty diesel delivery trucks.

UPS volunteered the early retirement of 30 older-generation, long-haul trucks and replaced them with new EPA 2010 emission standard compliant “clean-diesel” trucks. Coca-Cola Refreshments introduced 10 hybrid-electric delivery trucks to substitute their traditional diesel delivery vehicles. The award was administered by EPA Regional offices 6 and 7 and the new vehicles will operate in and around nonattainment areas throughout Texas, Louisiana, and Missouri.

Reducing emissions from diesel engines is currently one of the most important air quality challenges facing the country. Even with EPA's more stringent heavy-duty highway and non-road engine standards set to take effect over the next decade, millions of diesel engines already in use will continue to emit large amounts of nitrogen oxides, particulate matter and air toxics, which contribute to serious public health problems. It is estimated that the new trucks will reduce over 5,000 tons of carbon dioxide and almost 1,300 tons of nitrogen oxides over the lifetime of the vehicles. Compared to the traditional delivery fleets, these trucks will also reduce fuel usage by over 460,000 gallons.

“Leonardo Academy is dedicated to advancing organizational and individual sustainability. We are honored to have partnered with UPS and Coca-Cola on this important effort,” stated Michael Arny, President of Leonardo Academy. “Along with our partners, we will continue to work towards improvements in regional and national air quality and its associated public health benefits.”

About the EPA’s National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program
The Diesel Emissions Reduction National Program (DERA) authorized by Title VII, Subtitle G (Sections 791 to 797) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005) enables EPA to offer funding assistance to eligible entities on a competitive basis. Fiscal Year 2008 was the inaugural year of funding for DERA. Approximately 60 assistance agreements totaling over $28 million were awarded nationwide through EPA’s FY08 National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program’s regional competitions. In addition, on February 17, 2009, President Barack Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law No. 111-05) (Recovery Act) which provided funding for DERA.

Under the Recovery Act funding for the National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program, EPA awarded agreements totaling $50 million for projects that demonstrated the ability to be commenced expeditiously, reduce diesel emissions, and maximize job creation and/or preservation and economic recovery through a variety of diesel emission reduction strategies. Specific information on these funded projects can be found at: epa.gov/cleandiesel/projects/.

About United Parcel Service (UPS)
United Parcel Service has become the world's largest package delivery company and a leading global provider of specialized transportation and logistics services. UPS manages the flow of goods, funds, and information in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide. UPS operates a U.S. ground fleet of over 60,000 vehicles and has set a new automotive goal to improve the miles per gallon (MPG) performance of its entire U.S. package delivery fleet by 20 percent by 2020. Fuel efficiency levels will be improved through improved alternative fuel and vehicle technology, effective vehicle maintenance procedures, fuel conservation efforts, sophisticated routing technology and operational initiatives such as minimizing engine idling. The UPS alternative fuel vehicle (AFV) fleet is diverse, with multiple technologies, including hybrid electric, compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, propane, and hydraulic hybrid vehicle technology. UPS operates over 2200 AFVs, and since 2000 the alternative fuel fleet has traveled more than 165 million miles.

About Coca-Cola Refreshments USA, Inc. (CCR)
Coca-Cola Refreshments USA, Inc., a subsidiary of The Coca-Cola Company, is the world’s largest marketer, distributor, and producer of Coca-Cola products. CCR has made it a priority to implement corporate responsibility and sustainability initiatives throughout their operations, such as operating the largest hybrid electric truck fleet in North America and establishing the subsidiary Coca-Cola Recycling to help lead the way in capturing the equivalent of 100 percent of Coca-Cola’s packaging. Currently CCR operates over 500 heavy-duty hybrid electric delivery trucks in the United States and Canada.

CCR has made it a company goal to reduce the overall carbon footprint of their business operations by 15 percent by 2020, as compared to their 2007 baseline. Engines of CCR trucks are programmed to optimize fuel efficiency by setting maximum speeds and ensuring that the engine switches off to prevent idling. CCR is also piloting on-board truck report­ing, which allows the truck’s computer to report fuel efficiency and maintenance needs real-time. Likewise route opti­mization is also being improved to make CCR deliveries more efficient.  In 2009, CCR began piloting driver education programs in both Europe and North America as another tool to deliver environmental savings. “Eco-driving” techniques, such as early gear changes and minimal braking, have been demonstrated to significantly reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.