NGVAmerica Pluses Up Federal Advocacy Efforts

Washington, DC – Natural Gas Vehicles for America (NGVAmerica) today announced that Jeffrey Clarke has been elevated to the position of Vice President, Regulatory & Government Affairs and General Counsel and Matthew Brownlee has been appointed Director, Federal Affairs, effective immediately.

“I’m excited for this next chapter of NGVAmerica’s influence in Washington,” said NGVAmerica President Dan Gage.  “With Jeff’s willingness to take on a more impactful strategic role to marry our regulatory work with legislative activities in Congress and State Houses and the addition of Matthew’s energy, experience, and relationships across Capitol Hill, our industry is in a unique position to advance natural gas and renewables in order to capitalize on the green energy and clean transportation opportunities unfolding.”

Clarke currently serves as NGVAmerica’s longtime Director of Regulatory Affairs.  With this promotion, Clarke will oversee strategy for all regulatory and legislative affairs activities at both the federal and state levels.  In addition to these new responsibilities, he remains General Counsel and Secretary of the association’s Board of Directors.

Mr. Clarke has extensive experience in energy policy and regulatory affairs, having previously worked in government relations for the American Gas Association and in a previous role for NGVAmerica.  Prior to rejoining NGVAmerica in August of 2006, he worked as a government contractor for New West Technologies and in the Washington office of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), serving as a policy analyst, where he supported transportation programs for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy.  Clarke has a J.D. from the University of Baltimore and an undergraduate degree from James Madison University.

Matthew Brownlee joins NGVAmerica from the Office of U.S. Representative Markwayne Mullin (OK-2) where he most recently served as Senior Legislative Assistant with oversight over energy, environment and transportation policy as well as agriculture, trade, small business, and budget issues.  In this role, Brownlee was one of the lead staffers for the House Energy Action Team (HEAT), coordinating with over 80 Congressional Republican offices to promote American energy independence.

Brownlee holds over six years of Hill experience and previously served as a staffer in the Oklahoma State House.  He began his public policy career as an intern for longtime U.S. Representative Tom Cole (OK-4).  Brownlee is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma and a proud Oklahoma native where he grew up the son of natural gas industry professional.

In his new role, Brownlee will oversee the implementation of all NGVAmerica’s federal legislative advocacy and relationships.

With Brownlee’s appointment and Clarke’s elevation, NGVAmerica enters the second half of the year poised to advance multiple federal priorities, including a longer-term extension of the $0.50/gallon Alternative Fuel Tax Credit, the introduction of a $1.00/gallon renewable natural gas motor fuel credit, and more equitable treatment of near-zero, carbon-negative natural gas vehicle technology in federal regulatory transportation policy.

NGVAmerica holds its next Congressional staff briefing on the benefits and opportunities of renewable natural gas (RNG) freighting on Thursday, July 21^st at 2:00 p.m. in the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Hearing Room.

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NGVAmerica is a national trade association of sustainability solutionists and experts in the clean transportation field.  Our roughly 200 members are dedicated to the development of a growing, profitable, and sustainable market for vehicles, ships and carriers powered by natural gas and biomethane.  NGVAmerica member companies produce, distribute, and market natural gas and biomethane across North America, manufacture and service natural gas vehicles, engines, and equipment, and operate fleets powered by clean-burning gaseous fuels.  Find out more at: www.ngvamerica.org.