The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory, in collaboration with ComEd, the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, the Respiratory Health Association, and DOE’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory, recently secured a total of $2.5 million in federal awards from DOE’s Energy’s Clean Energy to Communities Initiative. The funding aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote the adoption of all-electric transportation in the northern Illinois region, aligning with federal net-zero carbon emissions goals by 2050.

Transportation is the leading source of greenhouse gases emissions, with the Chicago area being a significant contributor as a freight and logistics hub. Argonne’s Transportation and Power Systems researchers Aymeric Rousseau and Joshua Auld and the project’s other grant partners will conduct research and modeling to analyze strategies for reducing carbon emissions, facilitate the transition to electrification, promote clean energy, and enhance air quality in the region. The multidisciplinary project will also look to develop strategies beyond electrification to reduce carbon emissions, like promoting different modes of travel.

“Argonne is pleased to collaborate with our partners on this project as part of our commitment to sustainability and equity in the U.S., including in our hometown area,” said Argonne Director Paul Kearns. ​“Argonne research is driving progress toward transportation decarbonization and looks forward to pushing the boundaries of our existing models in support of a cleaner, more sustainable future for Northeastern Illinois.”