DENVER METRO CLEAN CITIES COALITION ANNOUNCES NAME CHANGE TO DRIVE CLEAN COLORADO
New name reflects the organization’s restructure to offer programs to the entire state of Colorado.
[DENVER, CO] – Effective today, July 20, 2021, Denver Metro Clean Cities Coalition, the nonprofit that supports fleets and communities in the transition to cleaner transportation, will become Drive Clean Colorado. This name change corresponds with an expansion to outreach and services with the goal of cleaner, healthier air quality for Colorado.
“We are thrilled to be announcing the evolution of our organization to provide equitable clean transportation education and resources throughout the state of Colorado. Poor air quality is a critical issue not only in the Denver Metro area but in communities all over the state, and transportation is the number one factor contributing to unhealthy air. Providing our programs to a wider audience of fleet managers and communities will accelerate the transition to cleaner transportation and breathable air in Colorado,” said Bonnie Trowbridge, Executive Director of Drive Clean Colorado. “We will continue to create effective partnerships throughout the state and bring more people and organizations to the table in order to break down silos and fast-track Colorado’s collective goal of reducing GHGs.”
Drive Clean Colorado (DCC) provides a variety of programs for fleets and communities to help navigate alternative fuels, new technologies, charging logistics, funding opportunities, and more. Individualized support is available and access to experts in the field is a hallmark of DCC.
“I’ve been involved with DMCC since the early days and have always been impressed with the organization’s deep contacts, extensive knowledge, and ability to move things forward and get the word out. The name change to Drive Clean Colorado is a reflection of the coalition’s dedication to driving the clean air cause forward,” said Steve McCannon, Drive Clean Colorado’s Board President and Mobile Sources Program Director at Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. “Working with fleets is difficult – if a fleet manager makes one mistake and invests in an expensive/or cutting-edge technology that fails to perform as needed, they might not be around for long. Helping fleets navigate the transportation market and giving them solid support and knowledge in alternative fuel vehicles before they take the plunge is crucial and exactly what DCC is great at doing.”
As part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Clean Cities program, DCC is one of over 75 unique Clean Cities coalitions across the U.S. Each coalition works locally to foster the nation’s economic, environmental, and energy security and advance affordable, domestic transportation fuels and fuel-saving technologies and practices. Denver Metro Clean Cities Coalition (now Drive Clean Colorado) was formed in 1993 as one of the first coalitions in the U.S. and has had many accomplishments, including:
- Authoring two precursors to the current 2020 Colorado EV plan – the Colorado Electric Vehicle and Infrastructure Readiness Plan in 2012 and the Colorado Electric Vehicle Market Implementation Study in 2015, funded by the Colorado Energy Office.
- DCC has hosted EV ride and drive events since 2008, allowing thousands of potential EV buyers to experience these vehicles for the first time and runs Drive Electric Colorado – an educational initiative focused on providing buyers a resource for their EV purchase journey, including one-on-one coaching.
- As an original ReCharge Colorado coach, DCC has helped grantees install hundreds of EV stations throughout the Front Range.
- Over the past 27 years the coalition has supported over a hundred fleets as they moved to cleaner transportation and mobility with fleet analysis and training, vehicle demonstrations, GHG reports, and technology integration.
- And in 2019 alone, Denver Metro Clean Cities Coalition reduced gasoline usage in the Denver Metro Region by 12 million gallons.
“Clean Cities has been a key Department of Energy program to give local communities access to the resources they need to make alternative transportation choices, and the Denver Metro Coalition has been at the forefront of that effort for nearly three decades,” said Dave Howell, Acting Director of DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s Vehicle Technologies Office. “The transition of the organization to offering their expertise throughout the state of Colorado is a clear next step to ensure all communities have the ability to call on the Drive Clean Colorado team to get individualized support to meet their clean transportation goals.”
Drive Clean Colorado, as a Clean Cities coalition, will continue to partner closely with Northern Colorado Clean Cities Coalition to accomplish work across the state. As part of the national Clean Cities Network, the two organizations will work to bring technology listening sessions, in-depth education opportunities, fleet analysis and efficiency coaching and EV awareness to communities outside the Front Range.
“The Northern Colorado Clean Cities Coalition is excited to support our partner’s evolution to Drive Clean Colorado. The work completed by DCC and NCCC helps achieve the state’s goals to lower greenhouse gas emissions by 26% from 2005 levels by 2025, 50% by 2030 and 90% by 2050. As a fellow Clean Cities Coalition, the work we do collectively positively impacts Colorado’s alternative transportation transition, equity, and air quality. We look forward to continuing to work with Drive Clean Colorado to promote sustainable transportation technologies, idle reduction, energy-efficient mobility systems, and other fuel-saving strategies.” said Diego Lopez, Executive Director of the Northern Colorado Clean Cities Coalition.