The Clean Cities program will place a critical role in the deployment of the Biden Administration’s policy priorities to address the health, economic, equity and environmental challenges currently facing the United States. The Greater Washington Region Clean Cities Coalition will be responsible for the management of several key initiatives in the Washington, DC Metro area:
GWRCCC will coordinate a large portion of the recently-announced $6 million Mid-Atlantic Electrification Partnership intended to expand electric vehicle infrastructure and EV use in DC, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia. The program will be supported by four Clean Cities coalitions, three electric utilities, Argonne National Laboratory, EV Noire and government jurisdictions around the region. An important component of the program is the focus on underserved communities in Wards 7 and 8 within the District of Columbia and the surrounding suburban counties;
COVID 19 has again demonstrated how disproportionately low income communities are impacted by respiratory illness. A major cause of such illnesses is exposure to poor air quality. Equity considerations require that clean air programs but more effectively focus on communities that have too often been overlooked;
Our children must be protected too. GWRCCC is participating in the three-year Mid- Atlantic School Bus Experience Project that provides free access to electric school buses and electric chargers for extended trial periods;
While the Biden Administration’s program focuses heavily on light duty vehicle electrification, it also encourages and incentivizes the use of biofuels too. GWRCCC continues to work with our propane, natural gas and biodiesel stakeholders to encourage the expanded use of these clean fuels;
Access to renewable propane, natural gas (RNG) and diesel fuels also remain a regional priority. Two major water treatment facilities in the DMV are already using, developing and expanding their RNG recovery efforts;
Workplace training remains a priority of the Clean Cities program. GWRCCC continues to work with our stakeholders, major area fleets, community leaders and educators to provide the training necessary to create new, well-paying jobs for technicians in the clean energy economy.
For more information about these programs and opportunities to participate, join our mailing list or refer to our website, www.gwrccc.org.
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