The Illinois Alliance for Clean Transportation hosted its annual Green Drives Conference & Expo on Thursday, May 8, 2025, at the IBEW-NECA Technical Institute in Alsip, Illinois, in partnership with Powering Chicago.
As the longest-running clean transportation events in the Midwest, Green Drives draws government leaders, commercial and municipal fleet managers, corporate sustainability professionals, and clean-tech experts from across the state each year. The conference highlights practical strategies for reducing emissions, cutting fuel costs, and adopting cleaner vehicle technologies.
The conference drew over 185 registrants, with attendees participating both in person and via live stream. It featured more than 15 speakers, approximately 20 exhibitors from the clean energy sector, and a display of several low- and zero-emission vehicles. Attendees had the opportunity to connect with national and regional experts and hear real-world insights from fleets already implementing alternative fuel and electric vehicle solutions. As in past Green Drives events, fleet managers could attend for free by committing to early bird registration.
Speaker presentations
Videos
- Welcome
- We are IACT
- Taking It to the Streets!
- Innovations and Best Practices Showcase – Myth Busters Fuels and Best Practices
- NTEA / Work Truck Week
- Powering Chicago “Codes and Confidence”
- John Walton – Recognition and Appreciation Award
- Updates from the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus
- Fleet Electrification and Readiness
- Show Me the Money! Funding Opportunities
Presentation slides
Welcome
- Ann Schneider, President at Ann L. Schneider & Associates / Board Member at IACT
Myth Busters! Best Practices / Innovation Showcase
- Chris Ransom, National Account Manager at Amerigas
- Marc Rowe, General Manager of Fuel Sales at Love’s Alternative Energy / Steering Committee at IACT
- Jason van den Brink, Chief Financial Officer at Ozinga Energy
- Karl Gnadt, Managing Director & CEO at Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District
- Matthew Carr, Director of Integrated Sales at International
- Steven Sage, Regional Sales Manager at Bollinger Motors
Update from the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus
- Edith Makra, Director of Environmental Initiatives at Metropolitan Mayors Caucus
Fleet Electrification Readiness
- Tim Milburn, Founding Partner at Green Ways 2Go / Board Member at IACT
- Rahul Chatterjea, Senior Energy Engineer at ComEd
- Kara Demirjian, Founder & President at DCC Marketing
- Tim Milburn, Founding Partner at Green Ways 2Go / Board Member at IACT
Show Me the Money! Funding Opportunities
- Chris Meister, Executive Director at Illinois Finance Authority
- Bailey Arnold, Director of Healthy Air Solutions at American Lung Association / Program Director at B20 Club of Illinois / Steering Committee at IACT
- Cristina Botero, Senior Manager of Beneficial Electrification at ComEd
- ComEd’s Beneficial Electrification Plan
- Ann Schneider, President at Ann L. Schneider & Associates / Board Member at IACT
The Illinois Alliance for Clean Transportation, formerly the Chicago Area Clean Cities Coalition until 2022, is a nonprofit 501(c)3 coalition dedicated to promoting clean transportation in Chicago and its suburbs. For over 30 years, the coalition has worked with commercial and government fleets to transition to low and zero-emissions transportation. Its membership includes federal, state, and local governments, corporations, small businesses, and individuals who collaborate to share information and resources, educate the public, influence public policy, and undertake projects that reduce petroleum use.
The Illinois Alliance for Clean Transportation is one of over 75 coalitions nationwide affiliated with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Cities program, which unites stakeholders to enhance the use of alternative fuel and advanced vehicle technologies, reduce idling, and improve fuel economy and air quality. The coalition focuses on educating businesses and municipalities throughout Illinois.
Whitney began working with IACT in 2023. With a degree in English and a minor in Art, Whitney has worked as both a newspaper reporter and a digital marketing and events manager, bringing 7 years of marketing and 8 years of content creation experience to IACT. Whitney is passionate about nature and preserving the environment, including solutions to cleaner air and greater sustainability, and is a former Chicago resident.