On April 1, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and the Social Enterprise Initiative at Goizeuta Business School announced that Emory University has officially opened a case competition to accelerate the mass adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in Atlanta. The City is interested in developing a feasible economic plan that will stimulate the demand for 50,000 EVs in the Metro Atlanta Region. The Mayor’s Office of Sustainability and Clean Cites Atlanta have been working to provide information for consumers who are considering purchasing EVs. These efforts now serve as a platform for students to get involved in a unique case competition to develop innovative plans that address the question: What is the best strategy for Atlanta to build the demand for 50,000 electric vehicles in the next two years?
Alternative transportation development is a key part of the Mayor’s sustainability plan. The City remains dedicated to the research and development of a comprehensive alternative transportation policy for the 21st Century. Finding an economically feasible strategy to accelerate the adoption of zero emission automobiles will aid Atlanta in its efforts to reach the city’s sustainability goals while making Atlanta a top ten city for sustainability.
Every college student in the State of Georgia is eligible to participate. In May, all participants will be able to access a three-part lecture series on Emory’s campus. Executives from the U.S. Department of Energy, General Electric and Wheego Electric Car Company will highlight issues associated with EV deployment and their mass-market adoption. Every lecture will be recorded, in addition to the terms and conditions for the case completion, and posted on Emory’s website: www.wisdomofcrowds.emory.edu
Up to 30 student teams may participate for a chance to present their strategy to a unique panel composed of policy leaders and industry executives. Contest deliverables are due Aug. 31, 2011 and will be submitted in accordance with instructions outlined on the competition website. Shortly thereafter, the top six student teams will be invited to present to the judging panel. On the Sept. 8, 2011, the selected teams will present their cases to the judging panel. Within 24 hours the top plan will be announced and a cash prize of $5,000 will be awarded.
Even relying on today’s power grid, electric vehicles produce less pollution than almost all other vehicles on the road. As the power grid gets cleaner, electric vehicles will become cleaner alternatives. For more information on Atlanta’s EV readiness efforts, visit: http://www.cleancitiesatlanta.net/index.php/grants-a-projects/atlanta-ev
About the Social Enterprise Program at Goizeuta Business School
Social Enterprise at Goizueta is defining the role the business school will play within the sector of organizations whose mission is to create social value. Whether a social enterprise operates in the nonprofit, for-profit or public arena, greater success will come to those who are able to apply management knowledge and skills to meet the challenges they face. Building a structure around Social Enterprise is another way Goizueta is developing principled leaders for global enterprise.
About Clean Cities Atlanta
Designated the first “Clean City” by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in 1993, Clean Cities–Atlanta (CC-A) serves as the central coordinating point for alternative fuel vehicle (AFV) activities in the metro Atlanta area. Through this partnership with DOE’s Clean Cities Program, the coalition of federal, state and local agencies, utilities, public interest groups, and public and private fleets promote the use of alternatives to gasoline and diesel fuel in cars, trucks, and buses. These alternative fuels help clean the air while also reducing the nation’s dependence on foreign petroleum.
About the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Sustainability
The Mayor’s Office of Sustainability is focused on instituting environmental protection practices into Atlanta city government. It aims to do so by improving the city’s environmental programs and policies such as water and energy conservation, solid waste and emissions reduction and recycling. To fully expand its commitment to sustainability, Mayor Kasim Reed has pledged that the City of Atlanta will become one of the top ten most sustainable cities in the United States. To that end, The Mayor’s Office of Sustainability utilizes Recovery Act funding across 16 different programs. These programs are designed to motivate and support community efforts that aim to enhance environmental quality, while supporting jobs and long-term economic growth.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This press release was sent via the Mayor’s Office of Communication. Click here for more.
