Clean Transportation Summit Highlights Clean Vehicle and Infrastructure Projects in the San Joaquin Valley

Panelists pose for a photo with their workshop moderator following the session on Rural Transportation. Left to right: Ismael D. Herrera, Jr., Interim Executive Director, Office of Community and Economic Development, Fresno State; David Greenfader, VP Business Development, Envision Solar; Moses Stites, General Manager, Fresno County Rural Transit Agency; and Reyes Barboza, Jr., Director of Operations, Green Raiteros/ValleyLEAP.

Clean air vehicles courtesy of Future Ford of Clovis were on display as part of the San Joaquin Valley Clean Transportation Summit

Breakout session attendees listening to a presentation by Moses Stites. Stites, the General Manager of Fresno County Rural Transit Agency, told the crowd that his organization has placed electric vehicle charging stations in 13 rural incorporated cities throughout Fresno County.

Todd DeYoung, Strategies and Incentives Manager, San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, at the Funders Forum during the San Joaquin Valley Clean Transportation Summit. DeYoung announced new funding available for trucks, ag equipment, large emergency vehicles, and diesel yard trucks and reported that funds will be disbursed by June 2021.

Leaders from CALSTART and Fresno State meeting ahead of Summit opening remarks. Left to right: Jesus Larralde, Ph.D., Associate Dean, Lyles College of Engineering; Aly Tawfik, Ph.D., Director, Fresno State Transportation Institute; Ram Nunna, Ph.D., Dean, Lyles College of Engineering; Joseph Castro, Ph.D., President, Fresno State; Joseph Oldham, Director, CALSTART SJV Clean Transportation Center; and John Boesel, President & CEo, CALSTART.

Attendees check out a Tesla plug-in electric vehicle on display during the San Joaquin Valley Clean Transportation Summit.

The 2018 Clean Transportation Summit -- hosted by the Fresno State Transportation Institute and CALSTART, in partnership with Fresno State’s Office of Community and Economic Development (OCED) and Project Clean Air -- was successful in bringing awareness of the necessity of transforming transportation to promote a healthier San Joaquin Valley.

More than 200 attendees participated in the two-day event on March 14th and 15th that featured 30 vendors at the forefront of revolutionizing the clean transportation industry. Additionally, vehicle displays and ride n’ drive demonstrations were located throughout the Save Mart Center parking lots, highlighting the latest electric and natural gas vehicles for commercial and residential use. Dealership representatives from Hedrick’s Chevrolet, Lithia Nissan of Clovis and Future Ford of Clovis were in attendance to demonstrate the capabilities of their inventories, including the Chevrolet Volt, Nissan Leaf and Ford Focus.

In addition to the ride and drive demonstrations, a series of eight break-out sessions explored air quality and transportation issues in the Valley, as well as opportunities for progressing toward cleaner transportation. Session topics focused on converting to natural gas from diesel fuel, the impact of California High Speed Rail on the region, the challenge of and solutions to connecting rural cities to major urban areas, and others.

The event concluded with a Funders Forum, where representatives from the Fresno Council of Governments, SJV Air Pollution Control District, California Transportation Commission and Center for Sustainable Technology provided an overview of the $220 + million in funding available to the San Joaquin Valley for clean air projects. The goal of the funding is to continue to progress toward clean energy transformation that promotes healthier living conditions and increased economic activity for our region.