Indiana Clean Cities Group Honors Dixie Chopper

Chalk up another honor for Dixie Chopper and its LP3000 propane-powered lawn mower.

The Central Indiana Clean Cities Alliance (CICCA) has presented Dixie Chopper with the 2008 CICCA Stakeholder Achievement Award for outstanding accomplishment in the development of the first original engine manufactured (OEM) propane-powered lawn mower.

Dixie Chopper Director of Sales and Marketing Matt Land accepted the award from CICCA President Ed Friel during the groups annual meeting Jan. 31 at the Indianapolis Museum of Art. Land was accompanied by Dixie Chopper Public Relations Director Eric Bernsee and Generac Power Systems Vice President Steve Hespe.

In 2006, Dixie Chopper partnered with Wisconsin-based engine manufacturer Generac to develop the LP3000 as a new line of worlds fastest lawn mowers. Over the past two years, that concept has gone from drawing board to reality as a cleaner, less-expensive lawnmowing alternative.

In fact, Dixie Chopper propane mowers have been purchased by a number of municipalities and educational institutions in their desire to go green as well as save the green in their wallets. It is interesting to note that Dixie Chopper propane mowers are now even mowing the grounds of prestigious Harvard University.

We are honored to be recognized by CICCA for the development of the first, original engine manufactured propane mower, Land said of the Indiana company that has been making commercial-grade zero-turning radius lawn mowers since 1980.

The Dixie Chopper vision has always been to provide our customers with a product that lasts long after it has been paid for, Land added. But now the LP3000 gives them an alternative fuel mower choice, allowing them to comply with Kno-Zone Air Quality Action Day requests, in maintenance and non-attainment regions of Indiana they serve.

In addition, Land pointed out that the LP3000 further reduces our nations dependence on foreign oil by running on propane, not petroleum-based fuels.

During mowing season, the demand -- and thus the cost -- of propane is down because homeowners are not using it for a heat source. Consequently, the cleaner-burning propane is typically half the cost of gasoline during those mowing months.

To drive home points like that, Dixie Chopper and Land took matters into their own hands last April and May.

This mower has literally seen the world, CICCA spokesman Kellie Walsh said in announcing the award. This past spring, Matt Land drove the mower 1,800 miles cross country (mostly via historic Route 66), from Indiana to Sacramento, Calif. And in Las Vegas this May, Matt will speak on the AFVis Conference on Propane panel, to tell attendees all about the Clean Cut Across America trip.

The Clean Cut Across America adventure landed Dixie Chopper on the cover of Route 66 magazine as well as on numerous television and radio stations and newspaper pages along the route.

Dixie Chopper is based in Coatesville/Fillmore, Ind., with an assembly plant in Greencastle.

Cleaner burning fuels like propane produce fewer air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions, American Lung Association of Indiana President and CEO Nancy Turner pointed out in praising the Dixie Chopper propane mower advancement.

Exposure to pollution is associated with an increase in heart attacks, low birth weights and reduced lung development in children, Turner said. Health risks are higher in vulnerable populations -- the very young, the elderly, those with pre-existing respiratory disease (such as asthma or COPD) or cardiovascular disease, and those exercising or doing strenuous work in locations with elevated air pollution.

Using propane-fueled lawn mowers will decrease our exposure to pollution.Cleaner air may result in less congestion, fewer asthma attacks and less permanent lung damage. Any steps we can take to emit fewer pollutants will improve our quality of life, she added.

Clean Cities, part of the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Office, builds partnerships with industry, stakeholders, fleets, fuel suppliers, and business partners with the goal of decreasing petroleum use. The nation's 88 Clean Cities coalitions focus on alternative fuels and alternative fuel vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, fuel blends, heavy-truck idle reduction applications, and general fuel economy improvements to help reduce the nation's need for imported oil.