Dear Readers,
Happy summer!
One of the questions IACT has been asking itself over the past year is both simple and important: how can we be most useful to the stakeholders we serve across Illinois?
As we have listened to fleets, local governments, fuel providers, educators, community organizations, and industry partners, the answer has become increasingly clear. Our role is to help connect people to practical solutions and to provide trusted information that helps them make confident decisions.
That mission matters because the clean transportation landscape is changing quickly. New technologies are emerging, funding programs continue to evolve, and fleets and communities are being asked to make decisions in an environment that can often feel complex and uncertain. In these circumstances, access to reliable information, strong partnerships, and responsive technical support can make all the difference.
At IACT, we see our work as both statewide and practical. We are here to inform and connect. That means helping stakeholders understand the range of fuel and technology options available to them, while also helping them identify the resources, partners, and strategies that best fit their unique needs. We know that one size does not fit all. A school district, a municipal public works department, a freight fleet, a farm-based business, and a community organization may all be working toward cleaner, more efficient transportation, but the path forward will not look the same for each of them.
So what does support from IACT look like in practice?
In some cases, it means technical assistance. We can help stakeholders think through deployment options, evaluate vehicle and fuel choices, connect with subject matter experts, and navigate questions related to infrastructure, operations, and implementation. Our DOE-supported work this year includes a commitment to provide technical assistance and deployment planning support to stakeholders across the state, helping organizations move from interest to action.
In other cases, support means education and training. IACT is working to deliver trainings, webinars, and events that bring forward the latest information on clean transportation technologies, legislation, incentives, and implementation strategies. We also know that stakeholders value opportunities to learn from one another, so part of our role is to create spaces where peers can share lessons learned, ask candid questions, and explore what is working in real-world settings.
We also aim to provide hands-on experience through vehicle and equipment expositions, ride and drives, and other opportunities that connect fleets directly with providers. Those experiences can make new technologies more tangible and help stakeholders better understand how different options may fit their unique operational needs.
Support also means outreach that is more regional and more responsive. Our strategic roadmap calls for stronger engagement in under-engaged parts of Illinois, especially outside the Chicago region, through convenings, workshops, and partnerships tailored to local needs. Whether the topic is biofuels in Central Illinois, electric vehicles in Bloomington-Normal, hydrogen in Champaign, or a multi-fuel conversation in Metro East, our goal is to bring relevant information and the right people together in the places where those conversations need to happen.
Just as important, IACT can help stakeholders make connections that lead to progress. Sometimes the most valuable thing we can do is introduce a fleet manager to a technology provider, connect a community leader to a funding resource, or bring together partners who can collaborate on a project. That connector role is central to who we are.
We also recognize that support must be accessible. IACT has long taken pride in offering low-cost or free services and in serving as a practical resource for stakeholders who may not have large staffs or dedicated technical teams. For many organizations, especially in smaller or rural communities, simply knowing where to start can be one of the biggest barriers. Helping people take that first step is an important part of our mission.
As we move forward, I hope you will continue to tell us what you need most from IACT. The more we hear from our stakeholders, the better we can shape our programs, communications, and events to provide meaningful value. If there is a topic you want us to explore, a training you would find helpful, or a challenge your organization is trying to solve, we want to hear about it.
IACT’s vision is a more sustainable future with reduced transportation-related emissions across all of Illinois. Reaching that vision will require good information, strong partnerships, practical tools, and a willingness to meet stakeholders where they are. That is the work we are committed to doing, and I am excited about what we can accomplish together.
To contact us, fill out this form, or email info@il-act.org.
All my best,
Ann Schneider
Chair, Illinois Alliance for Clean Transportation
Dr. Ann Schneider became IACT’s chair in 2026, bringing 36 years of professional experience in public finance, public policy, and solutions development and 18 years of executive-level transportation policy experience to the role. Now a transportation policy consultant, Dr. Schneider has helped clients secure nearly $357 million in grant funding.