New Haven Clean Cities Coalition

Lee Grannis started the New Haven Clean Cities coalition in 1995 and has served as the coalition's coordinator for the last 12 years.

As part of his Clean Cities mission, Grannis has developed projects and obtained federal and matching funding for compressed natural gas, light duty electric vehicles, electric transit, hydrogen hybrid and biodiesel projects, and outreach project funding. He has provided alternative vehicle/fuel consultation and assistance to many organizations in Connecticut and outside the state, including several towns and cities, metropolitan transit authorities, utilities, community colleges, universities, laboratories, and airports. He serves as an on-call advisor to Connecticut state government staffs and Connecticut's U.S. Congressional and Senatorial staff. Recently, his coalition in partnership with the three other Connecticut Clean Cities and 27 other partners was awarded $26 million including partner match from the U.S. Department of Energy for alternative fuel infrastructure and vehicle deployment in Connecticut. Grannis has been selected as the Northeast Region Clean Cities Coordinator of the Year in 2004 and 2008.

Grannis retired after 23 years as a lieutenant colonel infantry from the U.S. Army. He held several combat and logistical positions, which included two combat tours in Vietnam. He attended several military schools and is a graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. Grannis has a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Eastern Kentucky University in Political Science and a Master of Arts in Public Administration from Central Michigan University.

Brian McGrath is a lifelong resident of New Haven, Connecticut, and has served in several positions in the city. He has been the Co-Coordinator since the coalition was designated in 1995. Brian is a geographer by training who began his City career in 1972 with the City of New Haven Parking Authority. He then served 10 years as Principal Planner in the New Haven City Plans Department, 10 years as Senior Project Director and then Development Administrator in the Economic Development Office, and then 10 years as the Director of the Department of Traffic and Parking, and simultaneously Commissioner of the Parking Authority.

McGrath obtained his Master's degree in City and Regional Planning from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government in 1982. He is currently a contractor with the City's Public Works Department and Business Manager of the Chapel West taxing district. He maintains a City Hall office there and is the co-coordinator of the Greater New Haven Clean Cities Coalition, Inc.