Local governments turn to hybrids to reduce fuel costs
Sun, 06/22/2008 - 17:27 — SmartE
Fuel costs draining local governments, law enforcement agencies
The city has also purchased a hybrid Toyota Prius for Dothan Utilities’ Water Division supervisor to use.
Officers doing part to conserve gas
Urbana also has purchased three gas-saving hybrids, a Toyota Prius and two Ford Escapes, for parking enforcement.
N. Texas City Uses Hybrid Cars To Save Money
The Prius is one of six purchased for the city's housing department and officials said they are getting about 41 miles per gallon in the city. [..] Now the city may replace 250 other vehicles with hybrids.
Feeling pain at the pump, agencies downsize, scale back
[Clark Co. NV/Las Vegas] is trying to combat higher fuel prices by replacing its heavy Ford Crown Victoria and Mercury Grand Marquis models with more fuel-thrifty cars such as the Honda Accord and the Toyota Camry and Prius. It also is phasing out gas-guzzling sport utility vehicles such as Ford Expeditions and Chevrolet Blazers for hybrid Ford Escapes.
Cities going green as gas prices go higher
Forty cars in Salt Lake City's 1,000-plus vehicle fleet are hybrids or run on CNG, which sells for about 80 cents per gallon. [..] And Murray's Power Department has used four Toyota Prius hybrids during the past few years. [..] West Valley City just bought hybrids and is considering purchasing more. The city says the fuel savings through the car's service life will far outweigh the purchasing costs.
Salem's fleet now has six hybrid vehicles. Don Thomson, the city's fleet and warehouse superintendent, said replacement cars and trucks will be smaller and more fuel-efficient where possible.
Others are taking a more low-tech approach:
Deputies are being told to do at least an hour and a half of foot patrol, said Lori Nebeker, spokeswoman for the sheriff's office.
Idling patrol car engines are being ordered turned off, more officers are being assigned to walk or bike the beat and even battery-powered Segway scooters are being used to cut back on gas consumption, according to local law enforcement officials.
How Law Enforcement Is Handling High Gas Prices
Sheriff Nielsen says as of last week, deputies have been asked to go 10 miles per hour slower on the interstate and about 5 miles per hour slower in the city.
WBIR.com | Knoxville, TN | Fuel costs change work schedules in Blount Co.
To help offset the ever-increasing cost of fuel, Dunlap proposed a change to the weekly work schedule. Crews now work 2 extra hours per work day but only work 4 days each week.