The company, which refines and markets transportation fuels and other petroleum products, said it is the first independent refiner of its size issuing a mandate to reduce corporate [image-nocss] fuel use and environmental impact through a clean fleet program.
According to Jeff Morris, Alon's president and CEO, the "seemingly counterintuitive" decision is part of Alon's ongoing commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and operating its refineries, convenience stores and day-to-day business activities in a cleaner, more sustainable manner.
"Our environmental efforts historically have focused on innovation in the petroleum refining process, running low-emission facilities and maximizing the efficiency of our operations," said Morris. "Today, we're taking our commitment to a new level by changing the way we use the fuel that's at the heart of our business, both to make additional improvements in our own efforts and in hopes that other organizations will take measures to reduce their environmental footprints and be a part of the greater solution for a sustainable future."
The company's retail segment, Alon Brands, is extending the clean theme to the nearly 1,000 FINA locations in its network. Kyle McKeen, president and CEO of Alon Brands, explained that the program will apply to both vehicles and retail facilities.
"In addition to promoting a cleaner, more efficient fleet, we're launching new activities that will further elevate the standard of cleanliness and efficiency throughout our multi-state convenience store network," said McKeen. "Customer perceptions of our entire company often start with what they see and experience in our retail outlets, and customers equate cleanliness with safety, which is why clean is just as important to our retail team as it is to our colleagues who produce clean fuels."
Alon's new initiative also relates to broader city- and state-wide movements, such as Green Dallas and Texas Business for Clean Air, that highlight the opportunity, role and significance of the business community in enhancing environmental quality. In his remarks, Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert expressed a common theme of the importance for all segments of the community to take action to protect the environment.
"Today's announcement reinforces the importance of sustainable business and sustainable fleetsan issue that has been a priority with my administration and the City of Dallas for a long time," said Leppert. "Alon is not only demonstrating the business case for sustainability, but showing other businesseslarge and smallthe importance of making deliberate decisions about their environmental footprints."
Keliher commended the example that Alon is providing to other enterprises with the new initiative, and reminded attendees that the business environment and the environment are not in competition with each other. "Moving toward cleaner vehicles is not only good for business...it's good for the environment," said Keliher. "Businesses have a responsibility to protect the environment and Alon's efforts should serve as an example to other organizations, both in our state and across the country."
To illustrate the direction being taken by Alon in the selection of vehicles for its corporate fleet, four different cars and light-duty trucks were on display, including a Ford Fusion Hybrid, GMC Sierra Hybrid, Volkswagen Jetta TDI clean diesel and Volkswagen Touareg TDI clean diesel.
Alon USA, Dallas, is an independent refiner and marketer of petroleum products, operating primarily in the south central, southwestern and western regions of the United States. The company owns four crude oil refineries in Texas, California, Louisiana and Oregon, with an aggregate crude oil throughput capacity of approximately 250,000 barrels per day. Alon markets gasoline and diesel products under the FINA brand. Alon also operates more than 300 c-stores primarily in West Texas and New Mexico substantially under the 7-Eleven and FINA names and supplies motor fuels to these stores primarily from its Big Spring refinery. In addition, Alon markets under the FINA name to approximately 700 additional locations.
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