Agenda - 04-24-2007-4e - Laserfiche WebLink

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Green Vehicle Solutions The technology exists today to significantly reduce global warming pollution from Americas cars, trucks, and SUVs. Improving automobile fuel economy is the biggest single step to curbing global warming, since every gallon of gasoline burned creates 28 pounds of heat-trapping carbon dioxide pollution. [Source: Oak Ridge National Laboratory: U.S. Department of Energy.] Because transportation is a major source of global warming pollution, numerous cities are incorporating gas-electric hybrid vehicles and other fuel-efficient vehicles into their fleets. By using less gasoline, hybrid vehicles release a fraction of the global warming pollution emit- ted by conventional vehicles while saving money at the gas pump. Cities are also switch- ing away from polluting diesel city and school buses to cleaner alternatives like compressed natural gas (CNG) powered vehicles. Solution #1-Green Fleets Governments of all sizes regularly purchase automobiles to help provide a wide range of taxpayer services. Recognizing an opportunity for action, many cities, counties, and states are saving taxpayer dollars and reducing air pollu- tion by "greening" their fleets with hybrid gas- electric and other vehicles that go farther on a gallon of gas. Currently, 48 U.S. towns and cities in 36 states have green fleets programs, as do 26 county and 17 state governments. From police departments and school districts to administra- tive agencies and taxi services, green fleets are a winning city solution. [Source: greenfleets.org] For a general overview and step-by-step advice for writing a green fleets ordinance in your city, go to greenfleets.org/stepone.html For a model green fleets ordinance, see the city of Denver's ordinance at www.greenfleets.org/denverrevised.html Solution #2-Hybrid Vehicle Incentives In addition to purchasing hybrid vehicles for city fleets, local governments can encourage citizens and businesses to buy hybrid vehicles with a wide range of incentives. Some cities are already providing incentives such as free park- ing for hybrid vehicles and lower registration fees and taxes. Solution #3-Clean Buses City residents have long had to endure the sight and smell of black smoke belching from dirty diesel-engine buses. Now many cities are replacing these polluting old buses with buses that run on cleaner compressed natural gas (CNG) or with hybrid-electric diesel engines. Cool CRIES ~' 0 ', "Increasingly, cities are providing the answers to some of America's toughest problems. So it's fitting that we're leadi~ig the way on global warming as well." -Madison, Nlisconsin, Mayor Dave Cieslewicl NOTE: You can find all links referenced in this report at sierraclub.org/coolcities.