Clean Cities Coordinators and Stakeholders Rally on Capitol Hill

This week at the Energy Independence Summit 2015, organized by Transportation Energy Partners (TEP), over 100 Clean Cities coordinators and their local stakeholders visited over 220 House and Senate offices in an effort to educate members of Congress on the activities of the Clean Cities program in the States and Districts. On Monday, NGVAmerica Matt Godlewski spoke at the event to educate Congress on the importance of the Clean Cities Program and the policy benefits of using natural gas as a transportation fuel. “We’re very optimistic that this Congress is going to be motivated,” said Godlewski. “Already, we’re seeing cooperation.”

During their visits, Clean Cities coordinators distributed a letter signed by all the national trade associations that represent America’s alternative fuel and vehicle industries. The joint letter, addressed to the Senate and House Energy & Water Appropriations Subcommittees, supports increased deployment funds for the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Clean Cities Program. The trade associations that signed the letter included NGVAmerica, the Electric Drive Transportation Association (EDTA), the National Biodiesel Board, Growth Energy—America’s Ethanol Supporters, and the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA). “This year we have a unique opportunity to educate the new congressional leadership on the Clean Cities program and the role of alternative fuels and infrastructure in general,” said Sam Spofforth, as President of TEP. “The joint industry letter is a critical component of and demonstrates the broad-based grassroots support that exists for this critical DOE program.”