Harned Inducted into DOE Clean Cities Hall of Fame!

November 18, 2022

For Immediate Release
Alleyn Harned
804-539-9425
Aharned@vacleancities.org

U.S. Department of Energy Honors Virginia Leader for Advancing Alternative Fuels and Transportation Technologies

Harrisonburg, Virginia: With over a decade of experience heading a statewide coalition and working on transportation and energy-related issues throughout Virginia, Virginia Clean Cities Executive Director Alleyn Harned is known to his peers as an alternative fuels and clean transportation visionary.

On Thursday, November 17, Harned was honored for his leadership by being inducted into the Clean Cities Hall of Fame, which places him among a group of esteemed Clean Cities coalition directors who are steadfast ambassadors for alternative fuels and champions for fuel economy.

“Alleyn not only sees the path forward for clean, domestically fueled transportation in Virginia, but knows how to navigate the political economy of the Commonwealth to get there,” said Margaret Smith, Technology Manager at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Vehicle Technologies Office which houses Clean Cities. She made the announcement on the third day of the Clean Cities Training Workshop, where representatives from across the nation come together to learn about the latest transportation research, share experiences, and recognize each other’s successes.

Harned is known to his peers as an alternative fuels and clean transportation visionary.

Paving the Way Forward

Harned’s leadership of the coalition’s efforts to support programs that improve air quality, increase energy security, and broaden economic opportunity through the increased use of alternative fuels and vehicles has earned him the reputation of being an ambitious go-getter with high expectations for himself and others. He is deeply committed to building a decarbonized future and extremely knowledgeable about federal, state, and local laws and policies.

Thanks to his experience and drive, Harned has successfully managed tens of millions of dollars in grant awards from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Energy, and U.S. Department of Agriculture to deploy and demonstrate alternative fuels and vehicles involving biofuels, propane, and electric. He has developed and sustained relationships with over 100 alternative fuel fleets and 80 stakeholders and drafted the transportation section for the Virginia Energy Plan under three different governors.

Harned leads projects spanning all types of fuels, from electric, to propane, to ethanol. He worked on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act-funded Southeast Propane Autogas Deployment Program that deployed 1,200 propane vehicles as well as the U.S. Department of Agriculture grant-funded Biofuels Infrastructure Program that brought E85 (or flex fuel—a high-level ethanol blend containing 51% to 83% ethanol) to over 40 gas stations in the Mid Atlantic. He also managed the creation, development, and marketing of the Hydrogen Fuel Cell Nexus business to business directory.

(Photo by Joe DelNero, NREL)

Harned has been instrumental in developing the electric vehicle (EV) market in Virginia, managing the Richmond Electric Vehicle Initiative, the state’s first EV planning process, and managing the deployment of the first 25 DC Fast chargers in Virginia with Nissan. He has supported projects with major impact, working on the MidAtlantic Electrification Partnership to deploy 300 EV charging stations and build an EV ecosystem throughout Virginia, Washington DC, Maryland, and West Virginia. With a particular interest in promoting the benefits of electric school buses, he also led the MidAtlantic Electric School Bus Experience Project which enables school districts to try electric school buses before they buy.

Building Community Awareness of Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicle Technologies

Harned is an avid community educator, participating in events to increase awareness and knowledge around alternative fuels and advanced vehicle technologies. Most recently, he presented at a Fairfax County webinar on how to select and purchase an EV with an emphasis on issues and tips unique to Virginia. Earlier in 2022, he discussed the potential and limitations of renewable hydrogen as an alternative fuel with Energy News Network. Under Harned’s leadership, Virginia Clean Cities hosted the Harrisonburg Alternative Fuel Showcase in April 2022, featuring a variety of alternative fuel vehicles and providing test drives in some three-wheeled electric autocycles. The coalition also recently entered a joint pilot program with Arcimoto, Inc. to test-drive the company’s ultra-efficient EVs across the state.

Harned has provided multiple channels to connect his coalition with on-the-ground community organizations, multiplying its positive impact and uplifting organizations around it.

Virginia Clean Cities Coalition is a designated member of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Vehicle Technologies Office national network of more than 75 active coalitions. Clean Cities coalitions foster the economic, environmental, and energy security of the United States by working locally to advance affordable, efficient, and clean transportation fuels and technologies. For more information, visit cleancities.energy.gov and cleancities.energy.gov/hall-of-fame.