Who We Are

Advancing Clean and Efficient Transportation in Central Texas.

Mission Statement

To advance Central Texas’s environment, energy security, and economic prosperity through collaboration with communities by building partnerships with public and private stakeholders to create equitable deployment of clean transportation solutions for all.

Our History

In 1994, Austin Clean Cities was the 6th coalition to join the U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Cities Program, the first in Texas and the first to join from an area in attainment of the EPA’s standards for air quality. In 2000, Austin Clean Cities became Central Texas Clean Cities, having expanded to cover Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis, and Williamson counties. In 2012, the coalition reorganized into a DOE-recognized, membership-based, 501(c)(3) non-profit coalition known as Lone Star Clean Fuels Alliance. In 2017, after 16 years of serving as Executive Director, Stacy Neef retired and passed over leadership to our current director Elizabeth Munger. In 2024, Lone Star Clean Fuel Alliance became Central Texas Clean Cities.

Meet The Team

Our Team is committed to promoting clean transportation fuels and technologies including electricity, hydrogen, propane, natural gas, micro-mobility technologies, and vehicle miles traveled reductions. We collaborate with our stakeholders, sister Clean Cities Coalitions, Board of Directors, industry partners, and community organizations sharing our mission.

Elizabeth has been the Director since 2017. She began her career in alternative fuels in 1995 as the first Coordinator of the Laredo Clean Cities Coalition. She worked for Gladstein & Associates (now a TRS firm) on a variety of DOE funded projects including a Texas Clean Corridor project and International trade missions. She started The Green Group in 2001 and worked as a consultant for American Honda selling natural gas vehicles, marketing electric and hydrogen vehicles. She has also consulted for utilities and industry organizations. Elizabeth holds a BS in business from Roger Williams College and an MBA from the University of Rhode Island.

Elizabeth Munger

Executive Director

Julie Gutierrez has been the Communication Coordinator since 2023. She holds a degree in Social Entrepreneurship from Texas Lutheran University, where she revived the Environmental Action Club and founded a community garden. Julie is passionate about creating purpose-driven businesses and systemic social change. She was drawn to Texas Clean Cities for the growth opportunities and aligned values. Her personal motto is “See something, Do something,” reflecting her proactive approach to improvement.

Julie Gutierrez

Communication Coordinator

Board of Directors

Heather, President, is the Executive Director of the American Energy Institute and has over two decades of extensive experience in alternative fuels from her tenure at the Texas Railroad Commission. She directed marketing and public education programs for alternative fuels and was responsible for media coverage, newsletters, trade shows, promotional materials, market research, workshops, and consumer rebates. Heather has and continues to secure and manage multi-million dollar grants for alternative fuel vehicles and fueling infrastructure in Texas.

Heather Ball

Executive Director of the American Energy Institute

Mark, Vice President, is the Assistant Director of Parking and Transportation Services at The University of Texas at Austin. With extensive experience in various fuels and technologies, he leads a nationally recognized organization repeatedly named among “NAFA’s 100 Best Fleets” and Government Fleet’s “Leading Fleets”. A Certified Automotive Fleet Manager (CAFM), experienced speaker, and grant writer with over 20 years in fleet management, including a role as Regional Vice President for Budget Car Rental. He holds a BS from Michigan State University.

Mark Kaligian

Director of Parking and Transportation Services at The University of Texas at Austin

Ronnie Max, Secretary, is a Fleet and Commercial Sales Consultant at Henna Chevrolet Isuzu, renowned for his expertise in alternative fuel vehicles. Since 2016, he has been selling Chevrolet and Isuzu medium-duty trucks and vans. Previously, he founded CleanFuel CNG Conversions, a multi-state operation, overseeing its startup and operations. Ronnie is an industry evangelist, speaker, and panelist, with certifications including CSA Fuel System Inspector and ASE F-1. His skills encompass engineering, design, metal fabrication, quality control, and automotive engine PCM calibration for natural gas fuel mapping strategies.

Ronnie Max Oldham

Fleet and Commercial Sales at Henna Cheverolet

Chris Nielsen, Treasurer, is the founder and CEO of Electric Cab of North America (eCab). Known as a microtransit pioneer, he operates fleets of Low-Speed Electric Vehicles (LSEVs) for first/last mile applications across the country. Since 2008, he has grown eCab into the largest LSEV fleet in the U.S., focusing on urban mobility solutions that integrate with mass transportation to reduce traffic congestion. Chris collaborates with government and business leaders to create public-private partnerships, providing efficient and cost-effective microtransit services. He is well-versed in all aspects of electric vehicles, including supply chain and logistics.

Chris Nielsen

Founder and CEO of Electric Cab of North America (eCab)

A DOE Clean Cities and Communities Coalition

Clean Cities and Communities is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) partnership to advance clean transportation nationwide. More than 75 DOE-designated Clean Cities and Communities coalitions work locally in urban, suburban, and rural communities to strengthen the nation’s environment, energy security, and economic prosperity. As partners with DOE’s Vehicle Technologies Office, coalitions, like Central Texas Clean Cities, work to deploy affordable, efficient, and clean transportation fuels; energy-efficient mobility systems; and other fuel-saving technologies and practices. Since Clean Cities and Communities began in 1993, coalition activities have reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 72 million tons and helped put 1.6 million alternative fuel vehicles on the road. Together, coalitions create a compounding impact nationwide that advances U.S. energy resilience and reduces vehicle emissions while supporting regional economic development and job growth.

Interns

Clean Cities and Communities Accelerate, a Workforce Development Opportunity managed by Argonne National Laboratory, is a workforce development initiative under the U.S. Department of Energy’s partnership to advance clean transportation, enabling Clean Cities coalitions, like ours, to hire college interns for the semester to support coalitions in deploying Clean Transportation Fuels and Technologies. Interns gain valuable skills and learn about clean transportation, often securing permanent positions in related fields after participating. Our Interns come from the local Universities and Colleges in the Central Texas region.

Newsletters & Website Summer 2024 - Fall 2024

Our interns have helped us improve our website by updating coding and refreshing graphics and photographs. Additionally our interns repost our monthly newsletters on our website. In the Summer of 2024, our current intern, Melani T. used her web designing background to transform our website to be match our NEW logo, her creative eye brought to life the vision we have for our newsletters to be resources that capture the history of Clean Transportation Fuels and Technologies in the Central Texas region.