Press Contact: Sophie Cardona: (212) 361-2400, ext. 244 , or email cardona@informinc.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, ­ Thursday, October 18, 2001

SNAPPLE'S NATURAL GAS FORKLIFTS AND REFUELING STATION SET AN EXAMPLE FOR COMPANIES NATIONWIDE AND MEAN CLEANER AIR FOR NEW YORK CITY

By Joanna D. Underwood -- President, INFORM

Brooklyn, NY­ -- The Snapple Beverage Group's natural gas forklifts and the fueling station being dedicated today mark a pioneering step forward for the company. By shifting 27 forklifts to natural gas, Snapple is making its operations more efficient and secure while it contributes to cleaner air for New York City. We congratulate Snapple, Pride Equipment, Kingdom Group and KeySpan Energy for the collaboration that made this project possible.

What difference do 27 natural gas forklifts make? A lot!

Every one of these forklifts contributes to a healthier New York City. This city has among the worst air quality in the nation and has the highest rate of asthma per capita. Emissions from oil-derived fuels, especially diesel, are a significant cause.

Children are most at risk. A study by the Center for Children's Health at the Mt. Sinai School of Medicine found asthma hospitalization rates among children in our city's poorer and minority communities up to 21 times higher than in wealthier neighborhoods. Here in Red Hook, children were hospitalized for asthma attacks at considerably higher rates than the city average. Natural gas emissions contain virtually none of the small particles that are major triggers for asthma attacks.

Every natural gas powered forklift sets an example for this sector. Of the one million forklifts in the U.S., 60% are powered by conventional gasoline and diesel fuels. The project dedicated today shows forklifts to be a significant clean fuels market that, along with transit and school buses, garbage trucks and taxis, has exciting potential for change. Kingdom Group has played a vital catalytic role by putting natural gas fueling infrastructure in place.

Every one of the natural gas forklifts increases the reliance of city businesses on a secure fuel source. Natural gas is domestically plentiful. It is not subject to the whim of foreign oil sellers or international politics. Since the mid-1970s, our national leaders have urged a US shift from foreign oil to domestic fuels. While residential, utility and commercial use of oil has dropped 17% since then, transportation sector use has soared by 43%. Vehicles now consume two-thirds of the oil used in this country ­ more than our total domestic oil production. They are the main reason that we are so dependent on foreign oil. We realize more every day the severe risks posed by this dependence.

What Snapple, Pride Equipment, Kingdom Group and KeySpan Energy have achieved in Red Hook, hundreds of businesses using forklift and other vehicle fleets ­ in New York City and across the nation ­ can emulate. We hope this example will inspire them to do so.

Please see INFORM's reports on alternative transportation fuels and advanced vehicle technologies.