Pittsburgh Region Clean Cities Executive Director Rick Price Announces Departure

Executive Director Rick Price (center) was presented with a cake celebrating his pending retirement at the recent EV Show N' Tell at the University of Pittsburgh.

Media Contact:

Kristen Sabol, Co-Director

sabolkr@pgh-cleancities.org

412-303-7396

Pittsburgh, PA – May 20, 2025  – After an impressive and dedicated career, Richard “Rick” Price, the Executive Director of Pittsburgh Region Clean Cities (PRCC), has announced he will step down from his role at the end of 2025. Price has been a vital figure in the PRCC community for over 25 years, having served as coalition executive director for the past 15 years and previously serving as a member of the Board of Directors. His leadership has greatly advanced the mission of PRCC, leaving a lasting impact on the region’s efforts to promote clean, alternative fuels and sustainable transportation.

Price’s career in energy and sustainability spans over four decades. He retired from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in 2007 after 37 years of distinguished service. For 20 of those years, Price served as the Organizational Property Management Officer at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), where he led efforts to incorporate alternative fuel vehicles and infrastructure into the lab’s operations, winning a DOE award for small fleets in 2005.

As executive director of PRCC, Price led the nonprofit to become the go-to organization for Western Pennsylvania on alternative fuels and transportation. Price increased the organization’s financial and internal capacities, including an organization rebrand, launch of a new website, and an increase of PRCC’s presence outside of the Pittsburgh region to all of Western Pennsylvania. But his greatest accomplishment as executive director was to more than double the displacement of gasoline gallons while reducing greenhouse gas emissions annually.  When he took up the role in 2010, Western Pennsylvania had reduced gasoline gallons by roughly 466,645 gallons and greenhouse gas emissions by only 4,430 tons. In 2023, under Price’s leadership, PRCC replaced over 12.7 million gallons of gasoline and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by more than 83,000 tons. 

Price’s work also helped forge a successful partnership with the Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC), creating opportunities for alternative fuels vehicle training, including the recent launch of the EV maintenance apprenticeship program. He has organized countless events, including ride and drives for National Drive Electric Week, stakeholder fuels and vehicles training, workshops to help fellow coordinators secure project grants, and other technical assistance.  Price built the National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium’s Odyssey Day into a successful annual educational event that regularly attracts over 100 attendees to learn about alternatives fuels, grant funding opportunities, and policy. The event offers the largest alternative fuels vehicle showcase in the region.

Numerous  grant applications for the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s Alternative Fuels Incentive Grants (AFIG) program were supported under Price’s tenure. He helped Pennsylvania grow to become third in the nation for the use of propane school buses. And he was also instrumental in obtaining a large regional Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) grant in 2011 for the Green Fleet Initiative of Western Pennsylvania - a partnership of Equitable Gas Company, FYDA Freightliner in Canonsburg, Giant Eagle and Vogel Disposal; the grant helped each company retire diesel vehicles and replace them with compressed natural gas (CNG) solutions.

Price’s tireless dedication to promoting clean energy and transportation solutions was recognized in 2016 when he was inducted into the U.S. DOE’s Clean Cities and Communities Hall of Fame. This national recognition underscores Price’s deep impact on the industry and his unwavering commitment to clean transportation.

“It has been an honor to lead PRCC and support the transition to alternative fuels in Western Pennsylvania for over 25 years,” Price said.  “I am proud of all this organization has accomplished, including the strong relationships we have developed with partners around the region. I know those partnerships will help sustain PRCC as it enters its next chapter.”

“Rick has solidified PRCC’s role as one of the region’s leading nonprofits advancing clean, alternative fuels. His leadership, vision and deep commitment to our region strengthened PRCC’s mission and expanded its reach," said William Sapon, President of the Board of Directors for PRCC. "Serving on the Board during his tenure has been an honor. Rick has long been recognized as a national leader in alternative fuel education and policy and we are deeply grateful for his many contributions. His work has helped PRCC build strong relationships with our Congressional and State leaders to ensure that clean transportation remains a priority in Pennsylvania.”

“Rick has been an instrumental advocate and partner for advancing alternative fuels at the state level, “ stated Geoff Bristow, Chief Operating Officer of the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority and former PRCC Board Member. “I extend my deepest gratitude to Rick for all of his efforts to help improve environmental outcomes in Pennsylvania and help our businesses make informed decisions about these technologies.”

The Board will announce its search for a new executive director in the coming weeks.

Price will be honored on Odyssey Day, October 3, 2025 at CCAC's West Hills Center in Oakdale. Please join us in wishing Rick well in his well-deserved retirement.

About Pittsburgh Region Clean Cities:

Pittsburgh Region Clean Cities (PRCC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization first designated by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in 1995 as a member of its Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO) Clean Cities and Communities Network. PRCC helps to reduce petroleum consumption in the transportation sector by supporting the transition to cleaner fueling options. PRCC’s mission is to advance the energy, economic and environmental security of the United States by reducing our reliance on petroleum, supporting local actions for clean fuel-transition and adoption, and lowering  greenhouse gas emissions. The organization is one of over 75 regionally-based Clean Cities organizations coordinated by the U.S. DOE to fulfill this vision of a cleaner tomorrow. PRCC brings this network’s expertise to 33 counties in Western Pennsylvania and develops solutions based on a unique understanding of local needs, opportunities, and markets. In collaboration with key stakeholders across the State of Pennsylvania, PRCC also facilitates the Drive Electric PA Coalition (DEPA). For more information, please visit: http://www.pgh-cleancities.org and https://www.driveelectricpa.org.

About Clean Cities and Communities:

The Clean Cities and Communities partnership boosts the country’s energy security, economic vitality, and quality of life by advancing affordable, efficient, and clean transportation fuels and technologies. As the technology deployment arm of DOE’s Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO), Clean Cities and Communities coalitions leverage expertise from federal agencies, national laboratories, and other coalitions. Coalitions act locally in urban, suburban, and rural communities throughout America to help businesses and consumers meet their climate, financial, and energy goals. Visit us online at: https://cleancities.energy.gov/.

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