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.
Headed by KC Clean Cities Coordinators Kelly Gilbert and David Albrecht, KC Clean Cities is MEC’s flagship clean transportation program. The program was formally designated as a Clean Cities program by the Department of Energy in 1998, and has since become a national leader in alternative fuel advocacy, consulting, and projects. KC Clean Cities strives to promote alternative fuel vehicles and infrastructure in Eastern KS and Western MO, and operates out of the MEC offices in Kansas City.
Recognizing the unique economic needs and resources of communities across Central and Western KS, Central KS Clean Cities spun off from KC Clean Cities in 2014 to form their own program with the specific goals of rural Kansas in mind. The Coalition is based out of Wichita and headed by Clean Cities Coordinator Tami Alexander, who serves as a local consultant, clean fuels advocate, and community educator with a special focus on biofuels. This branch of our Clean Cities efforts has ensured that underserved communities in Central and Western KS have equal access to clean transportation and fuel alternatives.
Through our membership program, Clean Cities brings together transportation professionals, government officials, businesses, and other organizations to forge partnerships, pursue projects and funding, and share expertise around alternative fuel adoption. Our members enjoy our federal resources and national 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 Clean Cities 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 Thomas Murphy at Thomas@metroenergy.org.