This Fall, the Nebraska Clean Cities and Communities Coalition (NEC4) has been busy with education and outreach events in an effort to accelerate the adoption of alternative fuels, advanced vehicle technologies, and sustainable transportation solutions across the state.
The coalition was established in January of this year as an independent, designated coalition of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Cities and Communities Program. NEC4 brings together public and private stakeholders—government agencies, fleet managers, utilities, fuel providers, researchers, environmental groups, and more—to align efforts, share resources, and coordinate strategy. Staff at the Nebraska Transportation Center are responsible for coordinating the coalition’s outreach events.
“Get Plugged In” Webinar
On September 4, NEC4 hosted a panel webinar “Get Plugged In: Energization Planning for Small Fleets and Multi-Family Housing”. During the discussion, panelists from Lincoln Electric System (LES), Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD), and Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) answered questions about the electric vehicle forecast in Nebraska, state fees and policy changes, battery and charging innovations, and grid impact. Two representatives from the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) shared practical guidance for installing EV infrastructure and an energization roadmap they have developed as part of their recent Charging Infrastructure Service Connection Simplification Resource (CIISR). The webinar was moderated by the City of Lincoln Chief Sustainability Officer and NEC4 board member Kim Morrow, as well as NEC4 staff member Madison Schmidt.
The webinar was recorded and is available on their website at https://go.unl.edu/get-plugged-in
EV First Responder Training
NEC4 traveled to York, NE for a training event on September 12, 2025. By coordinating with York City Administrator and NEC4 board member Sue Crawford, NEC4 was able to provide the York Fire, Police, and Sherriff’s Departments a half-day safety training on electric vehicles and how to approach them in emergency situations. The training was taught by Barry Smith, Chair of the Automotive Technology Program at Southeast Community College (SCC). He has taught this curriculum at three other Nebraska locations and incorporates this information into the Automotive Technology Program at SCC.
The day began in a classroom setting where Mr. Smith explained to first and second responders how to identify, neutralize, and cut into an electric vehicle. Following a lunch and presentation sponsored by the Nebraska Public Power District, York’s power provider, students moved to Hitz Towing to view the electric vehicle components discussed earlier in the course by removing the covers under the hood and vehicle bottom.
This event was funded by the Clean Cities Midwest Expansion project, which is a Vehicle and Technologies Office funded project led by Kansas City’s Metropolitan Energy Center, an organization that houses two Clean Cities and Communities coalitions to cover Kansas City and the greater Kansas region. More on the project is available on the NEC4 website.
LES Ride & Drive
September is National Drive Electric Month and to promote the use of Electric Vehicles Lincoln Electric System (LES) hosts a Ride & Drive event every two years. The event took place at the Kevin Wailes Operation Center in Lincoln, NE where participants 21 years and older were able to test drive an electric vehicle with local dealers. EV enthusiasts were there to show off their personal vehicles and speak with event-goers on what they love about owning an EV. LES also had an Educational Interactive Tiny House (EdITH) with interactive displays that showed sustainable energy technologies, and a live demonstration that illustrated the dangers of high-voltage infrastructure by searing pickles on a live wire.
This year, NEC4 was represented by staff and their intern in a booth at the four-hour event. At the booth, event-goers could peruse a catalogue of the dozens of electric vehicles on the market. They gave away vehicle air-fresheners made from wooden craft balls, string, and essential oils—good for the environment and refillable!
Upcoming in 2026
Many more events hosted by NEC4 are to come early next year. The Renewable Fuels Summit will take place February 18 at the Innovation Campus Conference Center and will provide information on the opportunities and economic impact that ethanol, biodiesel, and renewable gasses bring to Nebraska and Nebraska fleets in a three-session format hosting panels of industry experts.
NEC4 staff and their student intern will conduct a listening session with UNL students to learn their perspective on electric vehicles, if they would ever consider buying one, and what misconceptions they have.
To follow up on what is learned from the listening session, NEC4 will conduct a Ride and Drive on or near campus for students and faculty to experience what it is like to drive an electric vehicle and what it would take to own and maintain one.
Don’t miss out on the NEC4 events! Follow NEC4 on their social media (X/Twitter, Bluesky, Facebook, and LinkedIn) and sign up for their newsletter.
