Proterra’s Goldman to Address Clean Technology Innovation at Washington, D.C. Public Policy Forum

June 19, 2012

GREENVILLE, S.C., June 19, 2012 – Proterra, the leading provider of zero-emission commercial transit solutions and maker of the world’s first battery-electric fast-charge transit bus will showcase its clean transit expertise in an upcoming public policy forum, titled, “Powering the Future: Moving to Cleaner Transportation and Energy Technologies.”  The event, which is sponsored by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD), will bring together key thought leaders in the transportation industry and academia with members of Congress to address how the public and private sector can work together to develop and deploy product improvements and spur innovation in the area of clean technology.  

This free event is open to the public and will be held on Thursday, June 21 from 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.

Noted environmentalist and Proterra director of business development, Joshua Goldman, will be part of a panel discussion focused on strategies for enhancing mobility, improving air quality and creating jobs through advanced transportation and energy technology.  Joshua will address Proterra’s vision for the future of mass transit and the important role government can play in advancing air quality through investing in clean technologies.

Other forum speakers include Rep. Henry Waxman, ranking member of the U.S. House of Representatives Energy & Commerce Committee; Rep. Earl Blumenauer, member of the U.S. House of Representatives Ways & Means & Committee; Rep. Grace Napolitano, member of the U.S. House of Representatives Transportation & Infrastructure Committee; Capt. John Holmes, deputy executive director of The Port of Los Angeles; Rob McCulloch, senior policy and legislative advocate for the BlueGreen Alliance; as well as representatives from the SCAQMD, leading universities and top companies, such as Siemens Industry, Inc. and Volvo Group North America.

“Desire and need for clean energy and environmentally-friendly technologies are at an all-time high, but desire is not enough,” said Goldman.  “It is critical that the public sector and the private sector work together to establish a clear path forward for tackling these pressing issues. Proterra is committed to leading the way in the area of green transit, in terms of developing and deploying clean technology and being willing to roll up our sleeves and partner with anyone who shares these goals.”

Interest in Proterra’s clean transit buses continues to grow in California and other areas of the country that are on the cutting edge of environmentally-friendly and lower total cost of ownership transportation initiatives. Foothill Transit in Pomona, Calif. began using three of Proterra’s EcoRide™ buses in September 2010 and is currently operating select services with their Proterra fleet.  Other cities anticipated to roll-out Proterra buses in the next six months include San Antonio, Texas and Tallahassee, Fla.

About SCAQMD

 The SCAQMD is the air pollution control agency for all of Orange County and the urban portions of the California counties of Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino. The second most populated area in the United States, this area is home to more than 16.8 million people - about half the population of the whole state of California. Because the area’s smog problem is so severe, SCAQMD often finds itself at the forefront of the nation’s emission reduction efforts.

AboutProterra

With manufacturing in Greenville, S.C., Proterra Inc is a leading designer and manufacturer of heavy-duty electric drive systems, energy storage systems, vehicle control systems, transit buses and fast-charging stations. Proterra’s systems are scalable to commercial buses of all sizes.  Its ground-up designs have led to the EcoRide™, the world’s first full-size, 10-minute-charge transit bus. For more information on Proterra and its technology, please visit: www.proterra.com.

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Agency contact:
JoAnne Laffey Abed, public relations manager
VantagePoint Marketing for Proterra
864.331.1265 or jabed@vantagep.com