• Posted: June 26, 2024
• 2024 Green Drives Conference & Expo, Contractor tool, Electrical Contractors' Association of Chicago (ECA), EV charging infrastructure and installation, IBEW Local 134 apprentice, IBEW/NECA Technical Institute (IN-Tech), Illinois Alliance for Clean Transportation (IACT), International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 134, powering chicago, solar electric system

Powering Chicago proudly sponsored the 2024 Green Drives Conference & Expo in partnership with the Illinois Alliance for Clean Transportation (IACT). The event, hosted at the state-of-the-art IBEW-NECA Technical Institute (IN-Tech) in Alsip, IL, brought together over 220 in-person attendees and an additional 40-50 remote participants to discuss the future of sustainable transportation and clean energy.

IACT organized this year’s Green Drives Conference & Expo. The event aims to raise awareness about reducing reliance on fossil fuels and creating a cleaner, more reliable, and sustainable fleet vehicle network. Powering Chicago is committed to supporting organizations like IACT in fostering the transition to clean energy in Chicago and Cook County with preparing the skilled workforce necessary to make the shift possible.

“This is the apprenticeship facility for Local 134 of the IBEW, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. We train current and future generations of electricians here in Cook County. We’re the place that you can come to if you want to work in the renewable energy field,” said Gene Kent, Business Manager of IBEW Local 134.

Throughout the day-long conference, attendees heard from 30 different speakers who discussed various aspects of sustainable transportation and clean energy. Many of the organizations that participated have made significant strides in reducing petroleum usage and greenhouse gas emissions through the adoption of alternative fuels such as biodiesel, natural gas, and electric vehicles.

“Collectively, our members have reduced petroleum usage by 23 million gasoline gallon equivalents per year and have reduced greenhouse gas emissions annually by over 200,000 tons,” said John Walton, Executive Director of the Illinois Alliance for Transportation.

The event also emphasized the critical role of a skilled workforce in the transition to clean energy. 

“Our people are the most highly trained out there. Our electricians know how to do everything back and forth or any industry that you guys are covering here today. We are the qualified workforce,” said Kent.

As the labor-management partnership between the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 134 and the Electrical Contractors’ Association of Chicago (ECA), Powering Chicago is uniquely positioned to support the growth of sustainable transportation and clean energy by providing the skilled workforce necessary to design, install, and maintain these technologies.

Powering Chicago is proud to be a part of the clean energy transition conversation at this year’s Green Drives event and remains committed to supporting the growth of sustainable transportation and renewable energy in Chicago and Cook County in the years to come. Lean on our library of resources for your next clean energy project, including important considerations for EV charging infrastructure and installation as well as determining whether a solar electric system is right for your facility. You can also learn more about what it takes to become a IBEW Local 134 apprentice or find a contractor for your next renewable energy project using our Find A Contractor tool.