AFVTAG Archive

Key contents of previous AFVTAG meetings are listed below. If you would like a link to the meeting recording, please contact ep.greentransportation@wsu.edu and let us know if you also require the closed caption report.

2025 AFV-TAG Meeting Summaries

September 18, 2025

• 0:00:34 Agenda and News: R99 update, GTP updates, grant updates
• 0:02:33 Green and Renewable Hydrogen Policy Updates in Washington
  • Shannon Pressler, WA Dept. of Commerce
• 0:28:14 Kenworth’s Zero-Emission and Alternative Fuel Vehicles
  • Alec Cervenka, Zero-Emissions Sales Manager

May15, 2025

• 0:01:02 Land acknowledgement
• 0:1:36 Agenda and News: NREL questionnaire for Tribal guidebook, R99, ACT Expo takeaways, CALSTART Member Symposium, Charge Where You Are grants, ZAP grants, EV Coordinating Council meeting, tax credit resources, clean fleets rule, GTSE discount code
• 0:19:30 2025 Washington Legislature Green Transportation Report
  • Peter Moulton, Northwest Community Partners LLC
• 0:39:35 News from the other Washington
  • Emily Pape, Electrification Coalition
• 1:08:16 EV Mapping and Planning (EV-MAP) Tool live demonstration
  • Tonia Buell and Rob Smith, Wash DOT
• 1:53:57 Best news in EVs today

March 30, 2025

• 0:00:38: Billy Frank Jr. recognition and statue project
• 0:05:20: News and announcements including R99 update, EV Coordinating Council, clean energy tax credit assistance, WA Climate Partnership roadshow, Charging Infrastructure Academy webinars, EV Mapping and Planning Tool now live
• 0:15:30: 2025 mid-session legislative report
• 00:27:15: Electric Vehicle Fire Study – Scott Lancaster, WA State Patrol State Fire Marshall’s Office
• 01:04:19: EV Charging Cable Security – David Birsen, CatStrap

2024 AFV-TAG Meeting Summaries

January 16, 2024

• 0:3:15: News: R99, EVs in Washington, new Commerce resources, upcoming MHDV incentive program, ZEV showcase event, grant awardees
• 0:11:03: Opportunity: Breaking Barriers Collaborative – Brad James, Green Fleet Specialist, WSU Energy Program
• 0:19:50: Announcements: California ZEV rules, hydrogen production tax credits
• 0:22:48: Insights on state policy and funding for green transportation – Emma Wyma, WA Dept. of Commerce
• 0:46:46: Gazing into the EV crystal ball. The year starts with some turmoil in the EV space and lots of new opportunities. Charlie Vogelheim, transportation aficionado and decorated auto journalist, will walk us through what’s on the horizon.

September 19, 2024

• 0:03:04: News and announcements including new renewable diesel (R99) guidance, Washington’s EV Instant Rebate Program, MHD Vehicle Incentive Program, and Washington’s Clean Fuels Forecast
• 0:37:20: New EV Standards: An Introduction to the Society of Automotive Engineers – Dante Rahdar, Ground Vehicle Committee Manager
• 1:02:06: EV Batteries: End of Life Recycling – Vivian Ericson, Peak Sustainability, and Tricia Dutcher, Redwood Materials

July 18, 2024

• 0:08:37: News and announcements including new R99 factsheet, Fleet Decarbonization Accelerator
• 0:19:00: Charging station resilience and DIY cable hardening – Jay Donnaway, Tacoma Public Utilities; and Wade Hammerstrom, Clark PUD
• 01:46:14: Washington state coordination for the IRS Elective Pay Program – Amy Wheeless, Dept. of Commerce; Denise Nguyen, Office of Financial Management; Hanna Waterstrat, Dept. of Commerce
• 01:16:48: At the intersection of climate, energy, and transportation – Xantha Bruso, formerly with Energy and Environmental Economics

May 16, 2024

• 0:05:18: Announcements and updates including zero-emission locomotives, regulatory updates
• 0:16:35: Funding programs for electric school buses in Washington – Kelly 0’Callahan, WA Dept. of Ecology
• 0:26:40: A framework for planning public EV charging – Eurydice Pentz, Pierce County
• 0:50:15: Transportation electrification planning and fleet electrification: progress, lessons learned – Rendall Farley and Bryce Eschenbacher, Avista
• 1:17:04: Case study – electric school bus and charging infrastructure

March 21, 2024 – Spring AFV-TAG Meeting

• 0:23:11: Renewable Diesel Market Report – Megan Boutwell, Stillwater Associates
• 0:55:00: SEEP Zero Emissions Vehicle Program: Executing Executive Order 21-04 – Seth Kolodziejski, SEEP Office, WA Dept. of Commerce
• 1:18:30: Grant Successes: City of Mt. Vernon Library Commons & EV Infrastructure – Jill Boudreau, Former Mayor, Project Administrator, City of Mt. Vernon

Jan 18, 2024 – New Year AFV-TAG meeting

• 0:45:08EV Infrastructure Success through EVITA – Tanya Dion, Project Developer, Energy Northwest
• 1:14:39 Port Townsend-Jefferson County Climate Action Committee: ZEV Success with Cindy Jayne, Committee Chair; Nicole Gauthier, Jefferson Transit; Jimmy Scarborough, P.E., Jefferson County PUD; and Julien Thorn, ZEV Co-op

2023 AFV-TAG Meeting Summaries

Nov 16, 2023 – NEVI Program Update from the Joint Office, PNW Hydrogen Hub Updates from Commerce, and More

• 0:11:50 What’s up with R-99? – Randy Thorn, P.E., Senior Engineer, WSU Energy Program
• 0:21:13 Joint Office of Energy & Transportation – Heather Richardson, USDOT, Volpe Transportation Center
• 1:06:45 MHD Vehicle Incentives Study – Betz Mayer, PWNER RIA
• 1:20:45 Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Hub – Shannon Pressler, WA Dept. of Commerce
• 1:44:00 Green Electrolytic Hydrogen and Renewable Fuels: Recommendations for Deployment in Washington – Stephani Celt, WA Dept. of Commerce

Sept 21, 2023 – Planning for New Grants, Technical Assistance Available

• 0:21:12 ZEV Innovation: Rural and Agricultural Electrification – Bridget Callahan, Sustainable NW; Robert Wallace, Wy’East RC&D
• 1:01:04 Community Charging Infrastructure Funding – Emma Wyma, WA Dept. of Commerce; Jonathan Changus, Center for Sustainable Energy; Fidel Leon-Green, Center for Sustainable Energy

July 20, 2023 – Developments in EV Charging Standards, Fleet MHD Reporting Requirements

• 0:14:50 Washington NEVI Program – Tonia Buell, WA Dept. of Transportation
• 0:48:48 Ecology: Medium- and Heavy-Duty Fleet Survey – Joshua Grandbouche, ZEV Specialist
• 1:05:16 Panel Discussion: Equipment Test and Ride-and-Drives – Dan Zenger, City of Vancouver; Rick Giddings, City of Spokane; Adam Russell, City of Spokane; Melody Bennett, King County

May 18, 2023 – Charged: A History of Batteries and Lessons for a Clean Energy Future

• 0:20:40 Legislative Overview – Peter Moulton, WA Dept. of Commerce;
• 0:41:11 PNWER Regional Infrastructure Accelerator: Medium- and Heavy-Duty Charging – Betz Mayer, Assistant Director, PNWER
• 1:03:12 Charged: A History of Batteries and Lessons for a Clean Energy Future – Jay Turner, Professor of Environmental Studies at Wellesley College, discusses his recent book that explores why solving the battery problem is crucial to a clean energy transition

March 16, 2023 – Regional EV Collaborative Website Launch, Equity in Transportation Electrification

• 0:15:41 Celebrate Clean Cities – Michael Graham, Deputy Director, Clean Cities
• 0:46:25 Department of Transportation Grants – Kara Symonds, ZEVIPP; Megan Reardon, ZAP
• 1:02:30 Puget Sound REV Collaboration – Kelly O’Callahan, Puget Sound Clean Air Agency
• 1:17:03 Equity in Transportation Electrification – Paulo Nunes-Ueno, Front and Centered

Jan 19, 2023 – Biofuels & Transportation Electrification Legislation, SCL’s Fleet Make-Ready Program

• 0:10:34 WA Dept. of Commerce Advances Clean Transportation in Washington – Deborah Reynolds, Steven Hershkowitz, Steven Polunsky, Aviv Berstein
• 0:56:04 Seattle City Light Transportation Electrification – Ambika Coletti, ICF; Patrick Campbell, Seattle City Light; Alex Trecha, ICF; Taylor Patterson, ICF

2022 AFV-TAG Meeting Summaries

Nov 17, 2022 – EPA Electric School Bus Grants, Upcoming EV Models

• 0:16:59 Lessons from Electric School Bus Deployments in Washington – Scott Meyer, Schetky Bus & Van Sales
• 0:58: Enterprise Services Fleet Purchasing & Procurement – John Lucas, WA Dept. of Enterprise Services

Sept 15, 2022 – Charging Infrastructure Business Models

• 0:12:53 New Grant Announcement – Molly Spiller, WA Dept. of Ecology
• 0:24:10 Electric Fire Equipment Vendors – US – Andrea Tousignant, Ions for EVs
• 0:28:04 Pollution Liability Insurance Agency: Funding Opportunity for EV Infrastructure – Phy Li, J.D., PLIA; Jamie Hays, PLIA
• 1:03:50 EV as a Charging Service – Bates, City of Portland; Amy Hillman, OpConnect

July 20, 2022 – Clean Fuel Program, Rural Energy, Data in Fleet EV Transitions

• 0:16:37 Clean Fuel Standard Rulemaking – Abbey Brown, WA Dept. of Ecology
• 0:52:46 Olympia Zone – Stephanie Celt, WA Dept. of Commerce
• 1:22:23 Data Capture and Planning for Fleet Electrification – Mary Till, Sawatch Labs; Chris White, Frontier Energy; Mike Usen, DKS Associates
• 2:25:45 Heavy-Duty Electrification – Andrea Pratt, Volvo North America

May 20, 2022 – Preparing for Upcoming EV Opportunities

• 0:14:05 Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Updates – Tonia Buell, WA Dept. of Transportation
• 0:53:49 Clean Energy Fund 5: Electrification of Transportation Systems – Nick Manning, WA Dept. of Commerce
• 1:18:17 EVSE Regulations Rulemaking – Gloriann Robinson, WA Dept. of Agriculture
• 1:41:13 Milestones: Identifying Candidate EVs – Andrea Tousignant, Ions for EVs
• 2:05:31 Milestones: DCFC and Managed Charging – Jon Jantz, Collaborative Efficiency

March 18, 2022 – Diesel Alternatives, News from Olympia, ZEV Infrastructure Resources

• 0:09:43 Welcome Stephanie & Steven – Stephanie Celt, Renewable Fuels and Hydrogen, WA Dept. of Commerce
• 0:30:33 Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Partnership 2022 – Kara Symonds and Tonia Buell, WA Dept. of Transportation
• 1:02:43 Renewable Energy Group, Inc. – Jeremiah Jones, REGI
• 1:35:50 Alternative Diesel Fuels Panel Discussion – Jeff Carter, Clark PUD; Amy Regimbal, Oregon DOT; Gary Lentsch, Eugene Water & Electric Board
• 2:15:16 Electric Island – Adam Morey, Daimler Trucks; Ian Beil, Grid Edge Engineer, Portland General Electric

Jan 21, 2022 – WSDOT’s Mapping & Forecasting Tool for ZEV Infrastructure

• 0:26:53 New ZEV & Clean Truck Rules – Dustin Watson, Mobile Source and Air Quality Specialist, WA Dept. of Ecology
• 0:56:23 Zap Grants – WA Dept. of Transportation (WSDOT) – Megan Reardon, Grant Analyst, WSDOT; Tonia Buell, Innovative Partnerships, WSDOT
• 1:41:25 School Bus Electrification – Alison Wiley, E-School Bus Learning Project; Neil Baunsgard, The Environmental Center

2021 AFV-TAG Meeting Summaries

Nov 19, 2021 – Planning ZEV Infrastructure

• 0:13:54 Milestones for Electrifying Public Fleets – Andrea Tousignant, Consultant, Ions for EV
• 0:40:03 Infrastructure Week: Celebrating the Passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
• 0:54:08 Experience with Diesel Emissions Reduction Act Funding – Nicola Graham, NW Seaport Alliance; Graham VanderSchelden, NW Seaport Alliance

Sept 17, 2021 – Rulemaking on Key EV Legislation

• 0:04:35 Clean Transportation Rulemaking Update
• 0:57:04 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act: Transportation Electrification Summary – David Terry, NASEO; Cassie Powers, NASEO
• 1:56:38 Alternative Fuels & Vehicles Technical Advisory Group

July 16, 2021 – Funding Opportunities for Public Fleets

• 0:07:26 EV Batteries: Getting Better All the Time – Andrea Tousignant, Consultant, Ions for EVs
• 0:18:58 Electrification of Transportation Systems Grants Report – Forrest Watkins, WA Dept. of Commerce
• 0:51:19 Discussion with ETS Grant Winners – Danielle Kievit, Puget Sound Energy; Kylee Jones, Spokane Regional Transit Council
• 1:51:13 Clean Transportation Rulemaking Update

May 21, 2021 – Key New Legislation, Environmental Justice & Inclusion

• 00:13:44 What is WA Dept. of Transportation doing to include environmental justice communities? – Alberto Valentin, Office of Equal Opportunity; Charlene Kay, Eastern Region Planning Office; Carol Lee Roalkvam, HQ – Environmental Office
• 01:03:09 May 2021 Capital Report: Major Milestones for Washington – Michael Breish, Energy Policy Specialist, WA Dept. of Commerce
• 02:10:57 Roundtable: What Are Your Next Milestones?

March 19, 2021 – Spring Forward

• 0:06:03 Greening Public Transportation Programs at WA Dept. of Transportation – Jill Nordstrom, Grants and Community Partnership Manager, WA Dept. of Transportation; Ralph Wilder, Vehicle & Facility Manager, Spokane Transit; Karl Otterstrom, Director of Planning & Development, Spokane Transit
• 1:00:37 Capital Update: News from Olympia – Michael Breish, Energy Policy Specialist, WA Dept. of Commerce
• 1:32:00 Environmental Justice Taskforce: Recommendations and Opportunities – Elise Rasmussen, Taskforce Project Manager, WA Board of Health
• 2:08:20 Washington Tracking Network: Why & How for Transportation – Jennifer Sabel, Senior Epidemiologist , WA Dept. of Health; Lauren Freelander, Epidemiologist , WA Dept. of Health

Jan 15, 2021 – State Energy Strategy & the Upcoming Legislative Session

• 0:03:56 Capital Update: News from Olympia – Michael Breish, Energy Policy Specialist, WA Dept. of Commerce
• 0:49:46 Infrastructure Watch: Funding Opportunities and Successes – Jennifer Harper, Business & Programs Developer, Energy Northwest
• 1:20:08 Washington State Master Contracts – Sean Hoffert, Contract Manager, WA Dept. of Enterprise Services
• 1:39:34 WSDOT ZEVIP for 2021 – Tonia Buell, Project Development Manager, WA Dept. of Transportation
• 1:58:00 Renewable Hydrogen: Washington Developments – Dave Warren, Renewable Hydrogen Association and Western Hydrogen Alliance; Cam LeHouillier, Energy Research and Development, Tacoma Power; Jason Sekhon, Advanced Technology Research, Toyota North America

2020 AFV-TAG Meeting Summaries

Nov 2020 – Challenges as Small Cities Plan & Implement Alt Fuel & Electrification Strategies

• 0:04:03 Equity in Transportation – Part 2 – Michael Breish, Energy Policy Specialist, WA Dept. of Commerce
• 1:02:01 Local and Small City Fleet Experiences: Auburn, Edmonds, Kirkland, Sequim – Anne Soule, Resource Manager, City of Sequim Public Works Dept.; Archie Ferguson, Fleet Manager, City of Kirkland; Tyler Thompson, Fleet/General Services Manager, City of Auburn; Mike Adams, Fleet Manager, City of Edmonds
• 2:01:00 JTC Report: Analyzing Electrification of Public Vehicle Fleets in Washington

Sept 2020 – On the Road – Vancouver

• 0:04:03 Equity in Transportation – Part 2
• 0:02:00 I-5 Electrification for Transit & Freight – Megan Weinman, Product Development Manager, Puget Sound Energy
• 0:30:12 E-transit: Electrifying Corridors for Regional Mobility – Joe Clark, Executive Director, Twin Transit; Andrea Culleto, Community Relations Director, Twin Transit
• 1:11:24 Legislative and Funding Report – Michael Breish, Energy Policy Specialist, WA Dept. of Commerce
• 1:45:13 Fleets & Equity: An Introduction and Invitation – Michael Breish, Energy Policy Specialist, WA Dept. of Commerce
• 1:57:48 Local City and Transit Fleet Experiences: City of Vancouver – Jacob Mahan, Equipment Supervisor, City of Vancouver; Jeff Carter, Fleet Services Manager, Clark PUD

July 2020 – Cancelled

In response to Gov. Jay Inslee’s furlough directive to help the state reduce costs and weather the economic fallout of the pandemic, the Department of Commerce will be closed on July 17th. We anticipate many other state agencies who regularly participate in our bimonthly AFV-TAGs will be unable to participate as well. As a result, the July 2020 AFV-TAG meeting is cancelled. Thank you for your understanding.

May 2020 – On the Road – Spokane

• 17:08 Avista Plans for Transportation Electrification – Rendall Farley, Electrification Manager, Avista
• 1:01:55 Local City and Transit Fleet Experiences: City of Spokane – Nathan Groh, Sustainable Transportation Analyst, City of Spokane; Steve Blaska, Chief Operations Officer, Spokane Transit
• 1:50:28 Panel Discussion: Serving Communities through Electrification – Breean Beggs, Spokane City Council President; Lars Gilberts, CEO, University District; Sabrina Minshall, Executive Director, Spokane Regional Transportation Council

Mar 2020 – On the Road – Tri-Cities

• 0:14:40 March 2020 Legislative Report – Peter Moulton, Senior Energy Policy Specialist, WA Dept. of Commerce
• 0:39:40 Tri-Cities Transportation Electrification – Jennifer Harper, Energy Northwest
• 1:08:19 Local Fleet & Utility Experiences: City of Richland – Pete Rogalsky, Public Works Director, City of Richland; Kevin Willis, Fleet Manager, City of Richland; Keith Hall, Director of Planning and Service, Benton-Franklin Transit; Bill Hale, Fleet Manager, Benton-Franklin Transit; Troy Berglund, Community Relations and Member Services Manager, Benton Rural Electric Association; Ron Mitchell, Benton Rural Electric Association, Electrical Advisor
• 2:02:49 Grid Capacity for EVs at Scale – Michael Kintner-Meyer and Sarah Davis, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Jan 2020– Progress at State and Local Levels

In addition to legislative and policy updates, this in-person meeting featured presentations by Andrea Pratt, manager of the Drive Clean Seattle Program. She shared a report and photos about electric transportation from a recent visit to Norway. Philip Saunders, manager of Seattle’s Green Fleet Program, presented the latest about Seattle’s Green Fleet Action Plan and their pioneering use of renewable diesel and renewable gasoline in Washington.

2019 AFV-TAG Meeting Summaries

Nov 2019 – School Buses

This in-person meeting focused on electric school buses, in part because of a grant opportunity from the Department of Ecology. Grant applications were due in December. We heard about the grant program from an Ecology representative. We also heard about the experience of the Franklin-Pierce School District, the first in the state to receive and demonstrate an electric school bus. This was followed by technical presentations from several OEMs, including Blue Bird, Lion, and Proterra-Thomas.

Sept 2019 – Transit Buses

This in-person meeting focused on zero-emission transit buses, in part because of the Green Transportation Grant program being developed by WSDOT for transit agencies. First applications were due in the fall. A WSDOT representative discussed the grant program. We learned about a variety of electric and fuel-cell transit buses through presentations from several OEMs, including BYD, Gillig, New Flyer, and Proterra.