A local company that makes a part designed to help tractor-trailers work more efficiently has just won a big prize from New York State.
EkoStinger, which makes aerodynamic devices that go underneath the truck to help reduce emissions and save fuel, is the grand prize winner of the state’s 76West Clean Energy Competition.
That means that EkoStinger will get $1 million to help it expand into the Southern Tier. The idea behind the competition is to support growing clean energy businesses and foster economic development.
Parr Wiegel is President and CEO of EkoStinger. He says the parts his company makes consist of metal and plastic. The metal fabrication will be moved to the Southern Tier as part of their expansion.
“We’re moving our plastic facility up into Rochester and that will go into the East Rochester location and then we’re going to move all the metal down there, so we can separate the two.”
Wiegel says EkoStinger’s product helps promote better fuel efficiency and less emissions into the air.
“Tractor-trailer trucks make up about 25 percent of the vehicles on the road but they make 56 percent of the carbon emissions. And so, by putting our product on your tractor-trailer, you reduce your carbon emissions by 6 percent.
Wiegel is hoping the expansion will also lead to more jobs at his company.
Governor Andrew Cuomo says that the 76West Competition “is attracting some of the most innovative entrepreneurs to the Southern Tier,” spurring economic growth while advancing the state’s clean energy economy.
A total of $2.5 million was awarded to six companies in the recent competition.
