The Virginia Clean Cities story begins in 1996 in Hampton Roads when the U.S. Department of Energy recognized the city as a Clean Cities Coalition. In 2001, the non-profit Virginia Clean Cities, Inc. was created to manage the Coalition. In 2009, Virginia Clean Cities formed a partnership with James Madison University enabling both organizations to leverage resources, current initiatives, and future opportunities. Virginia Clean Cities serves as a cornerstone program in the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research (IEER).
The Clean Cities program is sponsored by the Department of Energy in accordance with the Energy Policy Act of 1992. This legislation’s express intent is to ensure national energy security by reducing dependence on imported petroleum products. The Clean Cities program was chartered to help achieve this objective by promoting alternative fuel use in the transportation sector.
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Mission Statement
Virginia Clean Cities advances air quality improvement, economic opportunity, and energy security through deployment of alternative fuel vehicles and infrastructure, education programs and other petroleum reduction activities.
How Does Clean Cities Work?
Clean Cities draws stakeholders from local, state, and federal agencies; public health and transportation departments; commercial fleets; transit agencies; and other government offices; as well as auto manufacturers, car dealers, fuel and equipment suppliers, public utilities and nonprofit associations.
Clean Cities is instrumental in cultivating an advanced transportation community in which people learn about a wide range of options and technologies. In addition, Clean Cities helps create markets for alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs), hybrids, fuel blends, fuel economy and idle reduction. More importantly, Clean Cities provides a forum for members to leverage resources, develop joint projects, collaborate on public policy issues, and promote petroleum displacement and clean air technologies.
Clean Cities partnerships address the challenge of moving the United States away from the infrastructure and practices that contribute to the nation’s dependence on imported petroleum and toward energy independence and security. Clean Cities brings the national goals outlined in DOE’s Advanced Energy Initiative to the communities that can realize the end results.
Meet the Team
Virginia Clean Cities has offices in Charlottesville and at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. In addition to the team that manages the day-to-day operation of the organization, Virginia Clean Cities also draws on a large, diverse and engaged group of stakeholders throughout the Commonwealth and the nation.
Alleyn Harned
Executive Director
Virginia Clean Cities
c/o James Madison University
1401 Technology Drive
MSC 4115
Harrisonburg, VA 22807
Office: (540) 568-8896
Mobile: (804) 539-9425
Fax: (540) 568-5181
aharned@vacleancities.org
Bio
Prior to being named Executive Director, Alleyn served as VCC’s Business Development Director. He serves as the Virginia representative to the nine-state Southeast Natural Gas Vehicle Corridor Committee, and was the coordinator for Virginia’s initial 2010 electric vehicle readiness effort. Harned was appointed to the State Advisory Board on Air Pollution in 2013.
Alleyn has worked on transportation and energy-related issues in Virginia since 2006. Before joining the VCC staff, Alleyn served as the Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Trade for the Commonwealth of Virginia where he assisted in drafting Virginia’s initial Energy Plan, and participated in the Virginia Commission on Climate Change and Governor’s Energy Policy Advisory Council. Harned is a graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University, and has a master’s degree from James Madison University, where he serves in an A&P faculty role.
With Virginia Clean Cities, Harned leads the coalition’s collaborative effort to assist stakeholders and the Commonwealth in programs to improve air quality, and increase American energy security and economic opportunity through the increased use of alternative fuels and vehicles.
Matthew Wade
Deputy Director
Virginia Clean Cities
c/o James Madison University
1401 Technology Drive
MSC 4115
Harrisonburg, VA 22807
Office: (540) 568-4051
mwade@vacleancities.org
Bio
Sarah Stalcup-Jones
Research and Heavy-Duty Vehicle Programs Manager,
Chief Equity Officer
Virginia Clean Cities
c/o James Madison University
1401 Technology Drive
MSC 4115
Harrisonburg, VA 22807
Office: 540-212-4143
sstalcupjones@vacleancities.org
Bio
Bruce Vlk
Electric Vehicle Program Manager and Communications Director
Virginia Clean Cities
c/o James Madison University
1401 Technology Drive
MSC 4115
Harrisonburg, VA 22807
Office: 434-277-3418
bvlk@vacleancities.org
Bio
Bruce has two decades of experience in state government and higher education in Virginia. He earned his master’s degree in public administration from James Madison University and B.A. from George Mason University. He currently serves as an appointed member of the Virginia Land Conservation Foundation Board of Trustees, among other volunteer activities.
Kat Thompson
Administrative and Financial Coordinator
Virginia Clean Cities
c/o James Madison University
1401 Technology Drive
MSC 4115
Harrisonburg, VA 22807
Office: 540-212-4164
kthompson@vacleancities.org
Bio
Ian Lassetter
Program Associate
Virginia Clean Cities
c/o James Madison University
1401 Technology Drive
MSC 4115
Harrisonburg, VA 22807
Bio
David Robinson
Marketing Lead
Birch Studio
619 East High Street, Suite 4
Charlottesville, VA 22902
Office: (434) 977-9303
david@birchstudio.com
Bio
Becky Rohlf
JMU-VCC Administrative Liaison
Office of the Vice Provost for Research and Scholarship
James Madison University
MSC 4111
Harrisonburg, VA 22807
Office: (540) 568-3640
rohlfrl@jmu.edu
http://www.jmu.edu/research
Bio
She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Quantitative Business Practices from JMU’s Adult Degree program in May 2011 and is currently pursuing a degree through JMU’s Masters of Public Administration program.