As the executive director of the Greater Washington Region Clean Cities Coalition (GWRCCC), Antoine Thompson stays true to his commitment toward environmental justice by advocating for more accessibility to renewable energy options and educating communities about environmentalism and sustainable transportation.
The GWRCCC is one of approximately 80 organizations in the Clean Cities Coalition Network (CCCN) that champion affordable fuel-saving technologies, especially domestic transportation fuels, to ensure further environment and energy security. Since its establishment in 1993, the CCCN has implemented practices that have prevented more than 67 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions.
Thompson’s passion for environmental justice was fueled after he witnessed the effects of toxic waste dumps and abandoned factories on air quality and public health in Buffalo, New York. He hopes the GWRCCC can serve as a valuable tool to communities disproportionately affected by climate change.
“We try and expand the road of opportunity to include people from historically disadvantaged and excluded communities that have carried the burden of pollution by experiencing those health outcomes, but not always enjoyed the benefits of new technology,” Thompson told The Informer.
For Thompson and GWRCCC, the hope is that equipping the public with information about transportation’s impact on public health will garner exposure for alternative and more sustainable fuel options to reduce the city’s carbon footprint and mitigate air pollution’s effects on humans’ respiratory and cardiovascular health.
“We hope that we can showcase the positives and successes of people that have been able to participate and benefit from some of the clean transportation and clean energy work,” said Thompson.
Renewable Fuels Offer Hope
The EPA’s Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks showed that in 2022, transportation accounted for 28% of total greenhouse gas emissions in the country, making the sector the most significant contributor to direct emissions.
According to the EPA, passenger cars, as well as light, medium and heavy-duty trucks “account for over half of the emissions in the transportation sector.”
A sure way to reduce the release of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is switching to more environmentally friendly fuel sources like biodiesel – a renewable and biodegradable fuel made from vegetable oils, animal fats and recycled greases.
According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the usage of B-100, or pure biodiesel, reduces carbon emissions by more than 75%. B-100 is usually blended with diesel to create a “drop-in” fuel, which is a replacement for traditional fuels.
“Biodiesel can be blended with renewable diesel. That’s where we really say that the fuels are better together because they can be blended… for a higher reduction in emissions,” said Heather Buechter, director of communications for Clean Fuels Alliance America, during the GWRCCC 2025 National Biodiesel Forum.
Because of transportation’s contribution to greenhouse gas emissions, Thompson is adamant about using cleaner fuels and newer technologies in the sector to improve public health, such as combating air pollution, which contributed to over 8 million deaths in the U.S in 2021.
“Renewable energy is extremely important,” said Thompson. “It not only saves energy costs, not only does it help our environment, but it also saves people money and improves lives.”
Small Actions, Big Impact
Environmental activists emphasize that the public must work toward shifting their fuel and energy sources because, according to NASA, humankind’s modern needs have contributed to the nearly 50% increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels since 1750. Since 1850, Earth’s total temperature has risen by two degrees Fahrenheit.
While Earth’s rapidly worsening climate may be overwhelming, and make any efforts toward a cleaner planet seem futile, true environmental wellness is a group effort.
By making adjustments like using ethanol instead of traditional gas, switching to LED lightbulbs, opting for public transportation instead of driving, or simply separating your garbage and recycling, Thompson believes everyone has the power within themselves to help improve the environment.
“I think a lot of us may do things that we may not see as being important, but it is important,” Thompson told The Informer. “A lot of this is about individual, institutional and community behavior to advance a better environment for all.”
