The newly released Drive Clean Rural Electrification Playbook offers a practical and detailed roadmap to help rural communities navigate the transition to clean transportation. Recognizing that rural communities face distinct challenges such as budget constraints, limited technical staff, and infrastructure barriers, the Drive Clean Rural USA initiative the playbook compiles strategies and lessons learned from across the country with five key areas of impact:
- Education and Engagement:
Coalitions found that taking the time to educate and engage local stakeholders laid the foundation for future clean transportation investments. - Lowering Barriers:
By working closely with local decision-makers, the project helped reduce logistical and perceptual barriers. This included addressing misconceptions about EVs, navigating funding processes, and identifying community-specific concerns. - Stakeholder Coordination:
Coalitions reported that sustained collaboration with state agencies, fuel providers, and legislative partners enhanced buy-in. - Sharing Success Stories
Highlighting positive outcomes from other rural areas helped to build trust and inform future planning and policy efforts in similar contexts. - Acknowledging Challenges
The playbook discusses ongoing challenges such as funding gaps, data collection limitations, and evolving supply chains.
The playbook outlines tailored steps for different groups:
- Fleet Managers are encouraged to focus on actionable planning and data collection to guide clean fuel adoption.
- Community Leaders are advised to promote local education and align resources with community priorities.
- Supporting Organizations including Clean Cities Coalitions are positioned to offer technical assistance and build capacity through targeted outreach.
The playbook also includes a comprehensive resource guide with tools, funding opportunities, and educational materials to support implementation efforts at every stage.