The Illinois Alliance for Clean Transportation –formerly named the Chicago Area Clean Cities Coalition –invites commercial and government fleets, community leaders, and the public to attend its tenth annual Green Drives Conference & Expo on Thursday, May 18. One of the largest clean-transportation conferences in the Midwest, the event will be held at the Northern Illinois University Conference Center in Naperville, Illinois.
“This will be one of the first large clean transportation networking events since the federal and Illinois state governments released millions of dollars in clean transportation funding,” said John Walton, Chairman of the Illinois Alliance for Clean Transportation. “Green Drives is a must-attend event for anyone interested in how to take advantage of millions of dollars of sustainable transportation funding. It is a conference, a trade show, and a vehicle show all-in-one, and all-in-one-day, celebrating the latest in green-vehicle technologies,” says Walton.
We expect more than 250 attendees, twenty speakers, and several low and zero emissions vehicles on display. “Attendees not only get a chance to network with experts from throughout the region and the U.S., but they learn first-hand experiences from fleets who use electric vehicles and alternative fuels,” Walton said. “At Green Drives, we connect the people and technologies that make sustainable transportation a reality. Our exhibitors also give attendees the chance to get behind the wheel of vehicles of all different sizes.”
Speakers at this year’s event include:
- Samantha Bingham, Clean Transportation Program Director, Chicago Department of Transportation & Co-Coordinator, Illinois Alliance for Clean Transportation
- Andy Burnham, Principal Environmental Scientist, Argonne National Laboratory
- Linda Gaines, Transportation System Analyst, Argonne National Laboratory
- B.J. Johnson, Co-Founder and CEO, ClearFlame Engine Technologies
- Jason Kazmar, Director, Electric Vehicle & Sustainability Strategy, Element
- Giordy Lem, Manager of Fleet Maintenance, City of Chicago
- Chris Lyon, Director of Fleet Relations, NTEA
- Anthony Maietta, Life Scientist, Air and Radiation Division, USEPA Region 5
- David Novak, Christopher Burke Engineering
- Chris Schmidt, Illinois Department of Transportation
- Angela Tin, Vice President of Environmental Health, American Lung Association & Co-Coordinator, Illinois Alliance for Clean Transportation
- Elbert Walters III, Director, Powering Chicago
Up to 40 alternative fuel and electric vehicles will be on display, with some available for test drives.
Vehicle-fleet managers may register for a complimentary pass to attend the program. Offer is available for commercial or government fleet managers or other decision makers of vehicle fleet purchases, such as directors, city managers, mayors, or county officials.
“Green Drives is a great opportunity for commercial and municipal fleet managers, dealer personnel, small businesses, and clean-tech and clean-energy professionals to hear about the performance and environmental benefits of electric and alternative fuel vehicles,” Walton said.
“Whether you run a small or large business, are a fleet manager, manage a dealership or service garage, or work in technology or energy, there will be topics of interest and networking opportunities for you.”
Green Drives will be held at Northern Illinois University’s Conference and Meetings Center, 1120 East Diehl Road, Naperville, IL 60563. Tickets are $75. To purchase tickets visit our Eventbrite page. To become a sponsor or exhibitor click here or contact Dr. Joy Piazza. If you are a fleet manager and would like a complimentary pass, please contact info@il-act.org.
The Illinois Alliance for Clean Transportation –formerly named the Chicago Area Clean Cities Coalition –is a nonprofit 501(c)3 coalition focused on promoting clean transportation in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. The coalition has been working with commercial and government fleets for 30 years, helping them transition to low and zero emissions transportation. The coalition’s membership is comprised of federal, state, and local governments, corporations, small businesses, and individuals. These stakeholders come together to share information and resources, educate the public, help craft public policy, and collaborate on projects that reduce petroleum use.
The Illinois Alliance for Clean Transportation is one of more than 75 coalitions across the country affiliated with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Cities program, which brings together stakeholders to increase the use of alternative fuel and advanced-vehicle technologies, reduce idling, and improve fuel economy and air quality. The coalition concentrates its efforts on educating businesses and municipalities in the State of Illinois.