The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) and its partners — ComEd and the Respiratory Health Association — received a $500,000 award through the federal Clean Energy to Communities (C2C) initiative. The U.S. Department of Energy's C2C program supports community-driven projects for solutions focused on the electrification of transportation, buildings, and industry.

Over the next three years, this multidisciplinary team will conduct research and modeling with Argonne and Oak Ridge national laboratories to better understand the types and scale of action needed to foster a clean energy transition for the region's transportation system.

"With our partners, CMAP will be able to better inform its work around regional climate action planning to establish transportation emission reduction targets. And most importantly, help our region attain its climate goals and substantial health benefits for our communities," said CMAP Executive Director Erin Aleman.

Nationwide, transportation is now the largest single source of planet-warming gases, and transportation accounts for 32 percent of northeastern Illinois' greenhouse gas emissions, further complicated by the Chicago region's role as a freight and logistics hub.

Learn more about the C2C award partnership.