Office of Fleet Management wins award for alternative fuels

State of Ohio wins national award for alternative-fuel-use scorecard

Efforts by the State of Ohio to increase the use of alternative fuels in state vehicles has captured national recognition.

The Ohio Department of Administrative Services’ Office of Fleet Management has been named a winner of the 2009 Larry Goill Memorial Quality Fleet Management Idea Award from the NAFA Fleet Management Association for the creation and use of a scorecard measuring the use of alternative fuels in state vehicles.

This international competition recognizes creative ideas that improve productivity and/or favorably impact bottom-line cost savings.

“This national award further confirms that the State of Ohio has made great strides during the past two years in our efforts to increase the use of alternative fuels. There is more work to be done, but we accept the responsibility of being a leader among our peers,” said Director Hugh Quill of the Ohio Department of Administrative Services.

The Ohio Revised Code mandated the use of alternative fuels in capable state vehicles in October 2006. The code spelled out the minimum amounts of biodiesel and E85 fuel required to be used annually. To illustrate usage in an easy-to-read format, in 2007 the Office of Fleet Management created a scorecard indicating each state agency’s alternative fuel use and its progress toward reaching its goal. The scorecard has been shared with agency fleet managers and posted to the State of Ohio Web site at http://das.ohio.gov/gsd/Fleet/pdf/E_85_Bio_Feb_09.pdf.

The results of the implementation of the scorecard have been astounding. During calendar year 2008, E85 use increased 701 percent and biodiesel use increased 2,364 percent.

The State of Ohio was one of two winners of the 2009 Larry Goill Memorial Quality Fleet Management Idea Award. Applications were accepted from anyone employed in a vehicle management role by any company, utility, government agency or not-for-profit organization in the United States or Canada.

The awardees were announced April 27 at the NAFA Institute and Expo in New Orleans.