Valley Businesses Help to Clean the Air Now

Business CAN. You CAN. Valley CAN.

Valley CAN, a San Joaquin Valley non-profit group created to help support and promote real-world solutions to improving the region's air quality, today recognized a number of businesses and other organizations throughout the Valley for taking proactive steps to improve air quality.

The businesses and organizations are the first to be promoted and recognized through the Valley CAN Business Recognition Program, which is aimed to acknowledge and promote San Joaquin Valley businesses and industries that voluntarily develop and implement technologies, approaches and methods to reduce air emissions.

"Valley CAN is excited to promote and support demonstrated leadership in helping to reduce air emissions. By promoting these efforts and building awareness, Valley CAN hopes others will invest in similar voluntary actions that help advance the solution to the Valley's air quality problem now," said Bob Maddux, Valley CAN President.

Program participants provided Valley CAN with information demonstrating how they have retrofitted or purchased clean air equipment, promoted employee ride-share and carpool programs, reduced emissions from production sites, and purchased low-emission vehicles.

"Making decisions and investments that are ecologically sound can also be economically strategic. We are dedicated to the environment and have found ways to invest our capital properly," said Brady Matoian, Manager of the Food Service Sales Department, OK Produce. "Air pollution is a problem we all need to face. Businesses can lead the way."

Businesses and organizations that participate in the recognition program will receive special acknowledgement from Valley CAN, including placement in periodic ads in local newspapers and/or business journals, a static decal to place in a window at their business or automobile in support of promoting the "Business CAN. You CAN. Valley CAN" theme, and a resolution from the Valley CAN Board of Directors recognizing contributions to improving the air in the San Joaquin Valley.

Businesses were selected to be recognized after their voluntary efforts to clean the air were evaluated. The following is a sample of businesses recognized and promoted by Valley CAN:

OK Produce	Installed the largest solar power system in the Central Valley	Fresno, CA
Braun Electric Company	Operates four vanpools for employees	Bakersfield, CA
Jones Cleaning Centers, Inc.	Installed a GreenEarth cleaning machine	Fresno, CA
ChevronTexaco's San Joaquin Valley Business Unit	Commits to a 45% reduction in NOx emissions from current levels by 2008	Bakersfield, CA
North Fork Rancheria	Purchased a wood chipper for community members to utilize instead of burning	North Fork, CA
Health Plan of San Joaquin	Utilizes a carpooling program, promotes clean air programs, and issues newsletters about clean air and association to asthma	Stockton, CA
Kern Community College District - Porterville College	Utilizes nineteen electric gold cart type vehicles. The college is field testing Pathway Industrial Electric Carts	Porterville, CA
Tulare County Library	Provides public outreach efforts to help clean the air by posting informational materials in libraries throughout the county	Visalia, CA
Gusmercellalo	Investigating the reuse of gas fired burner exhaust being reintroduced in the burner box and pre-heated make up air	Fresno, CA
City of Modesto	Promotes programs such as the Rideshare program. Hosts annual Bike to Work Event in downtown Modesto	Modesto, CA
CSU, Fresno	CSU Fresno has two CNG alternate fuel vehicles, 36 electric carts, a CNG fueling station located on campus, and offers many community outreach services.	Fresno, CA
U.S. Postal Service	Employee carpooling program and efficient use of postal vehicles.
City of Stockton	Promotes Voluntary Trip Reduction Program since 1996. The result has been the elimination of approximately 1,200 vehicles trips per year	Stockton, CA
California Highway Patrol/Fresno Area	Efforts made by acquiring a new generator, which will increase the efficiency and help with the air quality.	Fresno, CA
Fresno IRS Campus	Publicizes the availability of transportation programs aimed at reducing air pollution and traffic congestion in the Central Valley. Offers several programs such as the Public Transportation Subsidy Program, which over 200 employees participated.	Fresno, CA
Berry-Uriarte	Invested over $1,000,000.00 in equipment to grind orchards rather than burning.	Fowler, CA
TODAY Cleaners	Converted facilities to GreenEarth solvent machines operating in four locations, with plans underway and equipment ordered to be completely converted to GreenEarth technology by September 2003.	Bakersfield, CA

For a complete listing of businesses and a description of their contribution to cleaning the air, visit www.valley-can.org.