Engineering professor and UTC Center recognized with Sustainable Transportation Award

Dr. Ignatius Fomunung, UC Foundation Associate Professor of Civil Engineering and Interim Director of the Center for Energy, Transportation and the Environment (CETE), was recognized by The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), in conjunction with Clean Air Month, for the outstanding efforts made by The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga to reduce transportation-related energy and emissions at the inaugural Sustainable Transportation Awards in Memphis, Tennessee.

Fomunung submitted a report for the competition.

Bob Martineau, TDEC Commissioner, explains that transportation accounts for nearly 30 percent of Tennessee’s end-use energy consumption, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

“By recognizing leaders in this field who are taking specific positive actions, we hope to inspire replication of innovative projects, activities, and initiatives across the state in an effort to save natural resources, improve the health and well-being of Tennesseans, and create efficiencies in the delivery of goods and services.”

Saying it was a privilege to be part of the inaugural forum for sustainable transportation, and a distinct honor for him and UTC to be recognized for work to advance sustainability within and outside the state of Tennessee, Fomunung “was delighted to note from this forum that several entities and individuals are engaged in similar activities across the state.”

The Center of Energy, Transportation and the Environment at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga  is focused on applying research to develop clean, renewable energy systems for transportation that will reduce the harmful effects of emissions and promote energy conservation and independence.

Along with the University, the Center’s partners are the Tennessee Valley Authority, the Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority, EVAmerica, the Federal Transit Authority and the Electric Power Board Chattanooga.

The Center’s research activities include electric vehicle testing with the Tennessee Valley Authority, demonstrations on hydrogen as a motor fuel, the conversion of a Saturn Vue car to run on ethanol, and research on wireless charging of vehicles through an inductive power transfer process from coils buried in the pavement.

Fomunung said the forum “shines a light on the work that Tennesseans are doing in fostering sustainability and providing a medium not only for the fruitful exchange of ideas, but also the opportunity to leverage existing synergies to forge lasting partnerships that will pay handsome dividends for the state and society at large.”

Fomunung also expressed UTC’s commitment to remain engaged in contributing towards the goals of TDEC in environmental stewardship.