Transportation is the engine that drives our world. It’s the way our food makes it to our plates, the way our kids make it to school. At MEC, we know that transportation is fundamental to our society, our economy, and our earth – and that we must strive to make it clean protect our future.
The cornerstone of MEC’s clean transportation programming lies in our Clean Cities Program, which was first started in 1996. Clean Cities is a federal Department of Energy program that “advances the nation’s economic, environmental, and energy security by supporting local actions to reduce petroleum use in transportation.” This national program is comprised of a network of over 100 Clean Cities Coalitions across the US, and MEC has the honor of housing both the Kansas City Regional and Central Kansas Clean Cities Coalitions.
Our Clean Cities Programming brings together stakeholders in both the public and private sector to promote clean fuels, fuel efficiency, and new transportation technology. Our Clean Cities programs keep a finger to the pulse of the alternative fuel industry, and its local events and resources. Join us in our efforts to reverse climate change, reduce air pollution, strengthen our local economy, and curb our dependence on petroleum.
Kansas City Regional Clean Cities is MEC’s flagship clean transportation program. The program has become a national leader in alternative fuel advocacy, consulting, and projects. Find out more about our transformative KC Clean Cities efforts here.
Based out of Wichita, our Central Kansas Clean Cities Program addresses the unique resources and economies of rural Kansas. Discover how the program ensures that underserved communities in Central and Western KS have equal access to clean fuels here.
Our Clean Cities members enjoy our national clean transportation resources and connections via the Department of Energy, as well as grant-writing, technical assistance and consulting, and networking benefits. You can learn more about becoming a member here.
An MEC-led coalition of EV enthusiasts, public officials, and industry experts pioneering the next generation of EV advocacy in KS and MO.
In 2012, MEC founded Electrify Heartland with a singular vision: to lay the groundwork for a zero-emission transportation future in the Kansas City region. We rallied a coalition of EV experts and policymakers to create the infrastructure and incentives necessary to prepare our area for an electrified future. The program, coupled with KCP&L’s Clean Charge Network, was a huge success: Kansas City is now the best EV ecosystem in the country.
This year, MEC recognized the need for the next wave of EV organizing in Kansas City. Thanks to the earlier efforts of Electrify Heartland, we have the right infrastructure, vision, and EV advocates in place. The time is ripe for widespread EV adoption in neighborhoods across Kansas City – and we called upon the coalition to serve as a new catalyst.
Electrify Heartland now seeks to address the contemporary barriers to widespread electrification. We hope to provide education and promote incentives to make EV’s more affordable for members of our communities. We seek to make infrastructure, electric cars, and electrified public transit more accessible in underserved neighborhoods. Ultimately, our goal is to make EV’s an accessible, widespread, and affordable option.
Our Mid-America Green Fleets Program provides hands-on consulting services for business and government fleets interested in switching to alternative fuels.
If you’d like to learn more about how you can pursue Green Fleets for your transportation needs, please contact Miriam Bouallegue at Miriam@metroenergy.org.