[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 21170]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



   IN HONOR OF NORTHEAST OHIO'S DESIGNATION AS THE 74TH CLEAN CITIES 
                                 REGION

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 9, 1999

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Northeast Ohio's 
designation as the 74th Clean Cities region under the U.S. Department 
of Energy's Clean Cities Program.
  Clean Cities is a national partnership formed to increase the use of 
clean-running alternative fuel vehicles. The Northeast Ohio Clean 
Cities designation encompasses Cuyahoga, Lorain, Medina, Summit, 
Portage, Geauga, Lake, and Ashtabula Counties in Northeast Ohio. The 
Northeast Ohio Clean Cities program is driven by The Northeast Ohio 
Clean Fuels Coalition, a group of dedicated people and organizations 
led by the Earth Day Coalition, a long-time leader in environmental 
protection for Northeast Ohio.
  On Tuesday, September 14, 1999, U.S. Energy Secretary Bill Richardson 
will formally designate Northeast Ohio as the 74th Clean Cities region 
in a ceremony to be held at the Great Lakes Science Center on 
Cleveland's Waterfront. The Northeast Ohio region joins other partners 
recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy, including Pittsburgh, 
Cincinnati, and Chicago.
  Northeast Ohio, a region historically known as a pioneer in the 
automobile industry, has more recently become a leader in the 
production and use of electric and alternative fuel vehicles. The 
Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority helped pioneer the use of 
alternative fuels in its fleet. Northeast Ohio is home to the NASA 
Glenn Research Center, an organization pioneering the future of hybrid 
engine technologies. Furthermore, the Northeast Ohio Clean Fuels 
Coalition was formed to promote alternative fueling stations and 
alternative fuel vehicles to regionally facilitate the development of a 
nationally viable alternative fuels industry. Achieving Clean Cities is 
a significant next phase in Northeast Ohio's commitment to alternative 
fuels and alternative fuel vehicles. This designation is an important 
step to achieving more local awareness and acceptance of alternative 
fuel vehicles that will, in turn, draw greater support for legislation 
that will enhance the alternative fuels marketplace.
  As the 74th Clean Cities region, the Northeast Ohio Clean Fuels 
Coalition will seek to facilitate alternative fuel vehicle production, 
conversion, and use, expand fueling availability, create new jobs and 
commercial opportunities, advance objectives outlined in the Clean Air 
Act Amendments of 1990 and the Energy Policy Act of 1992, increase 
public awareness of alternative fuel benefits, and provide greater fuel 
choices in the Northeast Ohio area.
  I am pleased to welcome Secretary Richardson to the Northeast Ohio 
area where I am certain he will be impressed by the commitment of the 
dedicated individuals who are working to make Greater Cleveland a more 
environmentally and economically sustainable place to live and work. It 
is an honor to recognize the Department of Energy's Clean Cities 
program and the Northeast Ohio Clean Fuels Coalition on the floor of 
the U.S. House of Representatives.

                          ____________________