CHICAGO (December 14, 2023) – The Illinois Alliance for Clean Transportation (IACT) recognized Caucus Director of Environmental Initiatives Edith Makra with the Community Leadership Award, celebrating her decade-long dedication to advancing sustainable practices in municipal fleets and promoting alternative fuels. The award was part of IACT’s 2023 Sustainable Transportation Awards, which are given annually to organizations and individuals who impact the reduction of vehicle emissions that improve air quality.
Caucus Environmental Director Edith Makra (center) received the Community Leadership Award from the Illinois Alliance for Clean Transportation (IACT). IACT Coordinator and Treasurer Samantha Bingham (left) and IACT Chair John Walton (right) are also pictured.
When IACT presented the award at the organization’s annual meeting last week, they said that Edith has made a critical impact advocating for smart local and state policies that support alternative fuels. Since 2018, she has been a driving force behind the EV Readiness Program, which is funded by ComEd and was developed by the Caucus. The program assists municipalities in embracing best practices for electric vehicle (EV) integration. Under Edith’s leadership, the program covers zoning, planning, permitting, community and utility collaboration, safety, first responder training, and fleet electrification planning. The program’s design involved extensive listening sessions and collaboration with an EV Readiness Advisory Committee (EVRAC), highlighting Edith’s commitment to inclusive decision-making.
The EV Readiness Team successfully delivered the program to 12 communities in the first cohort, who received an EV Ready Community Bronze or Gold award at a ceremony last week. The second cohort of 18 communities started work in August 2023. The program has received overwhelming interest, with over 50 communities in the Chicagoland region applying to the program or joining the waitlist for a future cohort.
Edith also played a pivotal role in crafting the Climate Action Plan for the Chicago Region, which outlines mitigation and resilience strategies with a focus on transportation electrification. In creating the plan, Edith again focused on stakeholder input and brought together 270 people from 175 organizations to contribute and provide feedback on the document.
Edith’s leadership extends beyond the EV Readiness Program and the Climate Action Plan. She developed the Greenest Region Compact, a tool for defining sustainability plans for jurisdictions. Her communication skills and motivational prowess have proven invaluable during this critical transition to cleaner fuels and energy.
At the end of IACT’s comments, the organization said Edith’s tireless commitment to sustainability is evident in her multifaceted contributions to municipalities, making her a deserving recipient of the Community Leadership Award.
About IACT
IACT, formerly known as Chicago Area Clean Cities, is one of more than 75 coalitions across the country affiliated with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Cities program, which brings together stakeholders to increase the use of alternative fuel and advanced-vehicle technologies, reduce idling, and improve fuel efficiency and air quality. The alliance concentrates its efforts on educating businesses and municipalities throughout Illinois but also helps to advocate for clean transportation nationwide. To become involved, visit https://il-act.org.
