Elected Officials to Protect America CEO Christian Brock accepts an Electric Vehicle Plug in America Award for EOPA’s United for Health and Energy Security EV Tour EV tour
November 21, 2024
By Ramona du Houx
LOS ANGELES, CA—Plug In America, a national nonprofit accelerating the shift to electric vehicles (EVs), and the Los Angeles Auto ShowTM honored the recipients of the 2024 Drive Electric Awards at a ceremony, November 21 on the LA Auto Show’s global press and industry day.
According to Plug in America, the selected individuals and organizations have demonstrated leadership, perseverance and commitment to the EV transition. Recipients included U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Jennifer M. Granholm, Elected Officials to Protect America, midwestern utility ComEd, and the cities of Schenectady, New York, and San Antonio, Texas, among others.
“The nominee pool was incredibly strong and diverse this year,” said Joel Levin, executive director of Plug In America. “We were excited to learn about the impactful electrification work being done in every pocket of the country.”
The following are the remarks of Christan Brock, Elected Officials to Protect America (EOPA) CEO, who received the award on behalf of EOPA:
“Elected Officials to Protect America is a nationwide network of current and former elected officials committed to protecting the health and safety of people by advancing environmentally focused solutions.
This summer, we embarked on a 1,200-mile road trip from Albany, New York, to Atlanta, Georgia, with stops in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Our mission was to build awareness and support for climate solutions, specifically electric vehicles.
The people we met on the journey will stay in my heart forever. In particular were the mayor and folks from Clayton County, GA. They were so enthused to be able to test drive, and learn more about EVs they brought officials from the community, including the sheriff to our demonstration. He was amazing – and his belief that EVs will improve the health of his community to breathe cleaner air is unwavering. He’s so committed to transitioning his fleet he helped fund EV infrastructure. Last year Sheriff LaVon Allen purchased over $3 million dollars worth of electric vehicles. Now 50 percent of his fleet is almost all electric and his goal is to have the first EV patrol cars in Clayton County. He has begun the EV revolution in his small welcoming community – with their help.
I want to personally thank Kate Kruk and the Lynkwell team for their support. Kate went above and beyond, driving her own F-150 Lightning the entire trip, showing her passion for transitioning our car culture to an EV future.
We called our journey the ‘United for Health and Energy Security EV Tour’ because transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S., contributing 28–33 percent of emissions. This doesn’t even account for the emissions tied to building our infrastructure. By transitioning to electric vehicles, we can reduce public health risks like asthma and emphysema while also saving on municipal fleet costs.
Growing up, I loved watching the Saturday morning cartoon, The Jetsons and dreamed of flying cars. While we may not have cars folding into briefcases anytime soon, I’m confident EVs are the future of a healthier, more sustainable transportation system.
On behalf of EOPA and the thousands of officials working toward a better future, thank you for supporting their commitment to protecting our people. Let’s join together to build a safer, healthier world.”
A committee of Plug In America’s staff and board members, along with previous winners, selected the honorees from a pool of nominations submitted by the public earlier this year.
The 2024 Drive Electric Award honorees are:
- Linda Nicholes Lifetime Achievement Award – Jennifer M. Granholm, U.S. Department of Energy secretary
- Advocate Award – Robert Blake, executive director of Native Sun Community Power Development in Red Lake, Minnesota
- EV City Award –Schenectady, New York
- Organization Award – Nonprofit Isles, headquartered in New Jersey, and for-profit Redwood Materials, headquartered in Nevada
- EV Awareness Award – Elected Officials Protecting America (EOPA), based in Maine, and the city of San Antonio’s EVSA Ambassador Program
- Utility Award – ComEd, an Exelon company, serving northern Illinois
- Individual Award – Vivian Rahwanji of Richmond, California
- City Captain Award – Caroline Nellis of Evansville, Indiana
- Student Award – Diya Kandhra, who is majoring in environmental economics and policy at the University of California, Berkeley
Plug In America is the nation’s leading nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating the use of plug-in electric vehicles in the United States through education, advocacy and research. Formed in 2008, Plug In America provides practical, objective information to consumers and dealerships about EVs through various programs, including National Drive Electric Week, Drive Electric Earth Month, PlugStar.com, and other public outreach events. Learn more at PlugInAmerica.org.
Elected Officials to Protect America is a network of current and former elected officials who care deeply about protecting the planet, and people. EOPA is committed to solving the climate crisis, ensuring environmental justice, and protecting our lands, waters, and democracy. EOPA educates through value-based storytelling, training lawmakers, and connecting elected officials to inspire strong environmental leadership.