Collaborating Across Sectors to Accelerate Electric School Bus Adoption for Reliable Energy

Zoom

Transitioning to electric school buses presents a unique opportunity to bring together diverse stakeholders for a common mission: securing clean air, health for our kids, living wage jobs, and a reliable and affordable electricity system. 

In this webinar, we heard from leaders working across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors for mass adoption of bidirectional electric school buses. From grassroots organizing to engaging labor voices to managing electric school bus projects at school districts, stakeholders from school districts, unions, and technology companies are collaborating to accelerate the transition to bidirectional electric school bus fleets in California and nationally. Speakers discussed why we need more collaboration to move these projects forward and how to get involved. 

This webinar was the third in a three-part series about the climate benefits of electric school buses.

Presentations and Resources

Speakers

Carolina Chacon

Coalition Manager, Alliance for Electric School Buses

Carolina has over a decade of experience in communications, strategic planning, community engagement and outreach, and project management. Through her consulting business, Carolina has worked with a variety of environmental groups on campaigns for climate action, clean energy, and land and water conservation. Since 2017, she has worked on the Clean Buses for Healthy Niños campaign for Chispa, and now leads the Alliance for Electric School Buses, a national coalition of non-profit organizations committed to electrifying the nation’s school bus fleet, starting in the most polluted communities and creating good U.S. jobs along the way.

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Joe Sullivan

Director of Energy Solutions and Workforce Engagement, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 11

Joe Sullivan is the Director of Energy Solutions and Workforce Engagement for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 11 and the National Electrical Contractors Association of Greater Los Angeles. In this role, he advances clean energy solutions paired with high-road workforce standards. Prior to joining IBEW/NECA, Joe worked in the consulting and training industry. Joe is a graduate of the University of Southern California and received his MBA from the University of Texas in Austin.

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Erny Epley

Director of Transportation, Fremont Unified School District

Ernest M. Epley III has dedicated 21 years to the transportation field, including more than a decade focused on leadership roles. His transportation leadership journey began with the California Highway Patrol before transitioning into school district transportation, where he has successfully led three transportation departments across Northern California. Today, Ernest serves as the Director of Transportation for Fremont Unified School District, bringing his extensive experience, commitment to safety, and passion for operational excellence to one of the largest districts in the region.

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Alex Macharia

Vehicle-Grid Integration Program Manager at The Mobility House

Alex Macharia is a Vehicle-Grid Integration Program Manager at The Mobility House, specializing in the implementation of commercial bi-directional projects for fleets in the US, as well VGI program development. He has worked in various roles within the automotive industry over 15 years, including roles at Nuvve and Cummins, where he managed automotive partnerships and OEM vehicle integration projects respectively. Alex has a BSc in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Central Oklahoma and a master’s in Engineering from Purdue.

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