Bonnie Trowbridge, Executive Director for Drive Clean Colorado, delivered the following opening remarks for our recent Summit on February 26, 2025. It resonated with our stakeholders and we want to share it with you here.

Our theme for the Drive Clean Summit is Keep Going.

This isn’t just encouragement – it is a call to action, a reminder that despite challenges, progress is unstoppable. We are on the road to a clean transportation future, and there is no turning back.

Over the past couple of years, we have witnessed increased adoption of electric vehicles and charging infrastructure, and hydrogen and renewable fuels are becoming integral parts of the transportation ecosystem. Policy shifts and technological innovations have accelerated change, proving that cleaner transportation is within reach.

Drive Clean Colorado is pleased to have worked alongside so many of you to get this good work done.

But as we celebrate these milestones, we recognize that our work is far from finished.

Air pollution continues to pose health threats in communities across Colorado, and transportation remains one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions which contribute to climate change.

That is why we must keep going.

The transition to clean transportation is not without obstacles—whether it’s unreliable chargers, infrastructure gaps, supply chain hurdles, public perception, policy shifts or evolving priorities.

So, we’re going to keep going. Clean transportation is an economic powerhouse. It creates jobs, provides efficiencies and cost savings for fleets, boosts local economies, and honors our right to breathe clean air.

Keep going. Investing in clean mobility isn’t just about the environment; it’s about people, businesses, and long-term prosperity.

Drive Clean Colorado is going to keep going. Our team will be working with communities across the state – large and small, urban and rural – to support workforce development programs, educate about clean transportation options, and connect our stakeholders with resources and to one another for peer learning and encouragement.

Here in Colorado, we are leading the charge. Our state has become a hub for clean transportation innovation, from investments in EV infrastructure to groundbreaking advancements in renewable energy. Municipalities across Colorado are electrifying their fleets, businesses are adopting sustainable fleet solutions, and our policies are setting an example for the rest of the nation. But let’s be clear: despite how far we’ve come, we’re not there yet. Challenges remain, and the road ahead will be rough.

Drive Clean Colorado is here for it.

We have to keep going. We must continue investing in infrastructure. We have to keep educating fleets and consumers. We must continue advocating for stronger policies, and supporting equitable solutions that make clean transportation accessible for all. 

Let’s keep going. Let’s keep driving clean.

It’s up to all of us in this room. Today is an important day – one where we can connect and build relationships that will help keep us moving forward.

Drive Clean, Colorado.