The Illinois Alliance for Clean Transportation, formerly the Chicago Area Clean Cities Coalition, recently hosted Green Drives Conference & Expo on Thursday, May 9, 2024. The event was an opportunity for commercial and government fleets, community leaders, and clean tech professionals to hear from industry experts and other fleet managers about converting fleets to alternative fuel vehicles. One of the largest clean-transportation conferences in the Midwest, the event took place at Powering Chicago’s IBEW/NECA Technical Campus in Alsip, IL.
The conference had over 270 registrants, some of which attended in-person while others watched online from the live stream. It also featured over twenty speakers, roughly 20 exhibitors within the clean energy industry, and a showcase of several low and zero-emissions vehicles. As with previous Green Drives conferences, fleet managers had the opportunity to sign up to attend for free if they committed to registering by the early bird deadline.
Speaker Presentations
Alternative Fuels: Insights and Updates
- David Gohlke, Energy and Environmental Analyst, Argonne National Lab
- Lynn Stafford, VP Business Development, True Alternative Fuel Systems
- Pete Probst, President, Indigenous Energy, B20 Club
- Tony Lindsay, Managing Director GTI Energy
- Jason Stair, Principal Engineer and Project Manager, GTI Energy
Which Alt. Fuel(s) Will Work For Your Fleet and Why
- Stan Balicki, Director of Public Works, City of Elmhurst
- Jason van den Brink, CFO, Ozinga Energy
- Sarah Mark, Fleet and Facilities Manager, City of Moline
- Brian Robb, Government Relations, Lion Electric
Incorporating Alternative Vehicles Into Your Fleet
- Roberto Torres, Chief Mechanical Officer, Pace Suburban Bus
- Ken Crowley, Superintendent of Fleet Services, Village of Oak Park
- Jason van den Brink, CFO, Ozinga Energy
Fleet Electrification Readiness
- Tim Milburn, Founding Partner, Green Ways 2Go
- Sam Hersh, North America E-Mobility Solutions Lead, Arcadis
- Ken Crowley, Superintendent of Fleet Services, Village of Oak Park
- Nick Pupich, Director of Controls and Specialized Solutions at Connelly Electric
- Bob Hattier, Director of Renewable Energy for IBEW Local 134
- George Mostardini, Business Representative, IBEW Local 134
Funding Opportunities and Updates
- Samantha Bingham, Clean Transportation Program Director, Chicago Department of Transportation
- Ann Schneider, Ann L. Schneider and Associates LLC
- Denise Munoz, Director of Clean Energy Solutions Strategy and Implementation, ComEd
- Anthony Maietta, Life Scientist, Air and Radiation Division, Region 5, U.S. EPA
- Chris Meister, Executive Director, Illinois Finance Authority
Green Drives Alsip was hosted by Powering Chicago at its IBEW/NECA Technical Campus at 6201 West 115th Street, Alsip, IL .
Watch the presentations and view the slides.
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 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.
Author
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 6 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.