SAN FRANCISCO, CA (November 30, 2012) – At the 4th annual The Right Stuff Awards dinner, the Apollo Alliance Project of the BlueGreen Alliance Foundation honored state and national leaders for their work to drive a national transportation policy that is good for the environment and the economy. The awards particularly recognized the finalization of the federal 54.5 mpg fuel efficiency auto standards which will create 570,000 jobs throughout the United States.

“America and the world can’t have a clean economy without having a clean transportation sector,” said David Foster, President of the BlueGreen Alliance Foundation. “It is vitally important to our economy; it touches virtually every industry and every American’s life as well. The work of our honorees is what we need to get us there.”

This year’s Right Stuff Awards Recipients were Bob King, President of the United Auto Workers; Mary D. Nichols, Chairman of the California Air Resources Board; Larry Schweiger, President and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation; Community Awardee Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy (LAANE); and Corporate Awardee General Motors.

“The work of these individuals and organizations is what is needed to build a clean energy, good jobs future for our country,” said Phil Angelides, Chairman of the Apollo Alliance Advisory Board. “We need to replicate their success across the country to ensure that we can have an economy that is about creating real wealth and real opportunity for America’s workers.”

For four years, the Apollo Alliance Project has honored leaders and businesses at the forefront of the clean economy in California and around the country for their contribution to a strong economy and a safe, healthy environment.

Bob King, President, United Auto Workers
In 2011, United Auto Workers President Bob King led the effort to build a coalition of labor organizations, environmentalists, businesses and auto makers that would support the adoption of new light-duty fuel efficiency standards. Thanks to his leadership and the support of the United Auto Workers’ 380,000 active members and 600,000 retired members, the White House finalized these standards in 2012.

“Bob King and the members of the UAW recognize we must have a national transportation strategy that is not just good for the environment, but the economy as well. We strongly support the new fuel efficiency rules that are ensuring the production of more fuel efficient cars in America,” said Maurice Staten, Assistant Director of the UAW-GM Quality Network.

Larry Schweiger, President and CEO, National Wildlife Federation
Labor unions and environmental groups have come together in support of important environmental initiatives that will put Americans to work. Larry Schweiger has been at the head of the National Wildlife Federation’s (NWF) advocacy of the fuel efficiency standards, and he has led the NWF’s efforts to build consensus around protecting our nation’s wild places, reducing pollution, and keeping our communities safe and healthy.

“The adoption of the clean air standards for automobiles will prevent the release of greenhouse gas emissions into our air and will save consumers money at the pump. They are what we need to protect our environment and wildlife, and they are what our economy needs as a whole,” said Larry Schweiger, President and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation.

Mary D. Nichols, Chairman, California Air Resources Board
History was made in California in 2006 when California adopted AB32 — California’s landmark clean energy jobs and climate change law. In her efforts to implement this legislation, Mary Nichols played a vital role in representing California during the development of the federal efficiency standards. Additionally, under her leadership, the California Air Resources Board has taken action to clean up California’s ports along with the air in Southern California.

General Motors, Corporate Award Recipient
General Motors stands as an example of American ingenuity, and the company has continually shown its commitment to environmental responsibility and continuous improvement. With the development of the Chevrolet Volt, General Motors showed the world it understood what consumers want: to save money and pollute less. Thanks to General Motors’ efforts, workers all across America are getting back to work building the cars of the future.

Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy, Community Award Recipient
Improving the lives of people is never an easy job, but the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy (LAANE) has been doing just that since 1993. LAANE played a pivotal role in passing the Clean Trucks Program in Los Angeles’s ports, a sweeping anti-poverty and anti-pollution measure that will improve the standard of living for hard-working truck drivers in the region. LAANE also helped enact the nation’s first Construction Careers and Green Jobs Policy and co-founded the Partnership for Working Families, two efforts that ensuring the availability of middle class jobs and healthy communities in the U.S.

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The BlueGreen Alliance Foundation is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization that conducts research and educates the public and media about solutions to environmental challenges that create economic opportunities for the American people.