ABOUT US

Colorado Clean Transportation Coalition (CCTC), is a 501(c)3 organization sponsored in-part by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Cities Program.

 

As part of the DOE’s Vehicle Technologies Program, Clean Cities advances the nation’s economic, environmental, and energy security by supporting local actions to reduce the use of imported petroleum in transportation. Clean Cities provides tools and resources for voluntary, community centered programs to reduce consumption of petroleum-based fuels.

 

Clean Cities builds partnerships with local and statewide organizations in the public and private sectors to adopt:

 

• Alternative and renewable fuels
• Idle-reduction measures
• Fuel economy and environmental improvements
• New transportation technologies, as they emerge

Our History

In 1996, the City of Fort Collins, Larimer County, City of Greeley, Weld County, Rocky Mountain National Park, various municipalities and several area businesses signed a memorandum of understanding and formed the Weld/Larimer/Rocky Mountain National Park Clean Cities Coalition.

In 2001, the name was changed to Northern Colorado Clean Cities (NCCC), and the organization transformed from a City of Fort Collins Natural Resources Department project to an incorporated, stand-alone non-profit.

In 2022, the name was changed to Colorado Clean Transportation Coalition.  

Our Team

Diego Lopez

Executive Director
Our Voice of Reason…

Diego Lopez joined Northern Colorado Clean Cities (NCCC) as a Co-Coordinator in August 2018. Lopez now serves as the executive director for Northern Colorado Clean Cities.
He is responsible for strategic planning, stakeholder services, education and outreach, public relations, and infrastructure development programs.
Lopez has 7 years of experience in the energy and transportation industry and completed a bachelor’s degree focused in environmental sciences and geography with a minor in physics from the University of Colorado Denver.
With experience as an energy and transportation advisor with a demonstrated history of working with consumers, businesses, municipalities, utilities, and fleets, Lopez is available to assist coalition stakeholders with project development, technical workshops, locating funding opportunities, and supporting funding proposals.
  • Favorite Book: Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, by Douglas Adams
  • Favorite Meal: Grandmothers homemade mole
  • Favorite Hobbies: Olympic (sabre) fencing, flying drones, cooking

Jason V. Green

Clean Cities Director
Jason V. Green joined Northern Colorado Clean Cities (NCCC) in 2022 after serving as an Energy Advisor and Operations Specialist for CLEAResult where he helped home owners and business save money on energy efficiency and net-zero solutions.
He now serves as the Clean Cities Director and hosts/attends industry events representing NCCC, connects with industry partners, and participates in continuous learning opportunities to stay up to date on market developments.
With experience working for rural and at-risk non-profits, Jason is proficient at communicating with a wide range of stakeholders.
  • Favorite Book: Illusions, by Richard Bach
  • Favorite H2O: Eldorado Springs!
  • Favorite Hobbies: Tinkering/Making

Desiree Moore

ReCharge Coach
| Transportation Analyst
Desiree Moore joined Northern Colorado Clean Cities (NCCC) July 2021 as an intern.
She became a full-time employee as of January 2023.
She is responsible for helping with communication content, attending different events, and learning as much as she can!
Desiree has taken courses at Colorado State University that have sparked her interest in sustainable energy and helped her to pursue an internship with NCCC. Although there is more she needs to learn, she is ready for everything NCCC has to offer.
  • Favorite Book: The Giver by Lois Lowry
  • Favorite Meal: Thanksgiving ham and potatoes
  • Favorite Hobbies: Different arts and crafts, hiking, tennis

Lacey Allor

ReCharge Coach
/ Transportation Coordinator
Lacey Allor joined NCCC as an intern in the Summer of 2021 through the She’s in Power Program whose purpose is to inspire women who will be tomorrow’s clean energy leaders. She was later offered a position as an intern for the Clean Cities University Workforce Development Program (CCUWDP).
After taking a semester abroad to Denmark, she returned to her position as a CCUWDP intern where she learns about public outreach, alternative fueled vehicles, and much more!
She became a full-time employee as of January 2023.
Her career goals involve working with sustainable energy technologies and she dreams of contributing her skills and knowledge to aid in the fight against climate change. She welcomes all conversations and loves engaging with people from all backgrounds.
  • Favorite Book: Fall of Giants by Ken Follett
  • Favorite Meal: Philly Cheesesteak
  • Favorite Hobbies: Learning, meeting new people, playing volleyball and tennis

Our Board

Cynthia Smeraski

President
LinkedIn Profile
Cynthia Smeraski has been a part of the Northern Colorado Clean Cities Board of Directors for the last 9 years and is the current Chair.
Cynthia has a background in Systems Neurobiology where she was awarded the Society for Neuroscience Next Generation award in 2009 for outstanding neuroscience outreach and science education.
In 2010-2013, she became involved with Northern Colorado Clean Cities to partner on educational program events as a Science Education Outreach Program Coordinator for CSU Ventures Systems Solutions Group in order to increase awareness of electric vehicles and alternative fuels.
“This is an important field to be in. This is new technology and the information needs to be shared…I basically used my previous experience in neuroscience outreach as a template for new awareness campaigns and outreach about the technical aspects of alternative fuels and transportation.”

Joel Danforth

Board Member
LinkedIn Profile
Joel Danforth, United Power Inc., has many years of experience working for numerous power supply industries until he landed a job as the Energy Programs & New Business Director for United Power.
“I’ve always been really interested in electric vehicles even before there were any real electric vehicles. I just knew that electric vehicles were the wave of the future, so I steered my education and eventually my career in that direction.”
He has been actively supporting NCCC’s purpose and goals since before he became a board member.

Gus Brown

Vice President
LinkedIn Profile
Gus Brown, City of Loveland, is the Fleet Services Manager for the City of Loveland for the past 26 years.
Gus started his career path by managing part stores until he decided to shift away from retail and towards fleet management, which represents a large stakeholder base for NCCC.
“Over the years I think the biggest thing that’s registered with me is the public service part of it. We don’t connect to the citizens- we’re contributing to everyone else that has direct contact with them- utilities, streets, you know all those different operations that we have a direct connection with and we just do it a different way. We connect through other people.”

James Mora

Board Member
LinkedIn Profile
James Mora, X3 CNG, has been the president of Innovative Energy Solutions for the past 11 years and has been the president of X3Energy for the past 7 years.
James started in the financial market but was inspired by cellulosic fuels which led him to the CNG industry. He is driven by making small changes, such as better air quality, saying
“if you focus on some low hanging fruits, there are major opportunities.”
James describes himself as alternative fuels agnostic, believing the future of the transportation industry needs to be a “portfolio of solutions” but alternative fuels like CNG, RNG, and hydrogen have the most promising outlook, especially for heavy-duty trucks.

Mahesh Albuquerque

Board Member
LinkedIn Profile
Mahesh Albuquerque, Colorado Dept. of Labor and Employment, has over 25 years of public and private management experience in public safety programs and addressing issues on environmental protection, consumer protection, public safety and regulatory compliance.
His current title is the Director for the Division of Oil and Public Safety at the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment where one of his main tasks is regulating fuel products.
“I was driven by changing the public perception of the government. I’m doing things that I would never have dreamed I’d have the opportunity to do.”

Perry Cogburn

Board Member
LinkedIn Profile
Weld County Garage

Sarah Krautschun

Secretary
LinkedIn Profile

Jennifer Shriver

Board Member
LinkedIn Profile
Regional Air Quality Council

Maria Eisemann

Board Member
LinkedIn Profile
In her role as Policy Advisor, Special Projects, Transportation Fuels and Technology for the Colorado Energy Office, Maria develops and evaluates policy and studies on clean fuels and zero emission vehicles and technologies.
She serves as chair of the Colorado Electric Vehicle Coalition and its Policy and EV Equity subgroups. She represented the office in the development of the Western Inter-States Hydrogen Hub with three other western states. She was also lead in the development of the 2020 Colorado Electric Vehicle Plan released in April 2020.
Prior to her employment at the Colorado Energy Office, Maria was Coordinator of Northern Colorado Clean Cities. She also spent 7 years at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Washington DC in the Office of Compliance working on air regulatory issues, rulemakings, and voluntary compliance incentives.