U.S. Department of Energy Recognizes Local Leader for Advancing Clean Transportation

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With over a decade of experience as an executive director in the Clean Cities and Communities (CC&C) partnership, Alicia Cox works tirelessly to ensure that the Wyoming/Montana/Idaho areas have clean transportation options tailored to their unique needs.  

On Thursday, September 12, Cox was honored for her leadership of Yellowstone-Teton Clean Cities by being inducted into the CC&C Hall of Fame, which places her among a group of elite CC&C coalition directors who have been recognized for their resolute commitment and contributions to furthering alternative fuels and advanced vehicle technologies in U.S. transportation.

Mark Smith, manager of the U.S. Department of Energy Technology Integration Program, made the announcement on the third day of the Clean Cities and Communities Annual Training Workshop, where coalition representatives from across the nation come together to learn about the latest transportation research, share experiences, and recognize each other’s successes. 

Cox is a great champion for the CC&C mission with a steadfast attitude and warm personality, supporting and promoting the use of all alternative fuels in the Wyoming/Montana/Idaho area. Over the years, she has developed many initiatives, including Drive Electric Greater Yellowstone (now Drive Electric Wyoming and Drive Electric Wyoming, the Electric Vehicle (EV) Experience, the EV Ambassador Program, and EV charging station rebate programs. Cox served as a major partner in DOE’s WestSmart EV, WestSmart EV@Scale, and CORWest projects, which all support EV infrastructure buildout in the Northwest. Additionally, this past year Cox has supported nearly $12 million in successfully funded stakeholder projects through various federal programs, most recently the Town of Jackson’s $5.5 million Department of Transportation Community and Fueling Infrastructure Grant (DOT CFI). 

Cox’s work also expands beyond EVs. She led the development of training and curriculum for local stakeholders in green fleets, a transportation-themed sustainability series focused on alternative fuels, vehicles, and other fuel-saving practices, including renewable diesel, natural gas, idle reduction, rideshare, and transit. 

YTCC’s longstanding efforts around the area’s ski resorts and national parks are especially lauded, given the coalition’s territory includes some of America’s best skiing and two of the top 10 most-visited national parks in the United States. Both Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park are responsible for an increase in local road congestion during the summer months. Another of the coalition’s notable recent projects is the Wheel House Commuter Bike Hub, which reduced emissions and traffic congestion by providing e-bike charging and bike storage so local commuters can get off busy roads during high-tourism season. 

Under Cox’s 10-plus years of leadership, YTCC has displaced a total of 972,646 gasoline gallon equivalents and reduced 9,235 tons of greenhouse gas emissions. The coalition fosters relationships with 80 stakeholders from some of the most sparsely-populated states in the country—Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. 

“Thank you all, I love the Clean Cities and Communities coalition network,” said Cox. “You all are my family, and this work is so fun and always changing!”