Upgrading the vehicles for the city government to be more efficient and use forms of energy that generate less pollution would have a wide range of benefits for the city, both financially and socially. This can be achieved by creating a plan that phases out older vehicles and conducts cost-benefit analyses for technologies and newer vehicles.
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Idea
City vehicles, especially emergency response vehicles, can generate an unnecessary amount of emissions, waste fuel, and cost the city dollars that could be spent elsewhere. Some technologies exist that eliminate the need for police and fire vehicles to actively idle while still leaving systems active. Newer heavy duty vehicles can run on natural gas, which burns cleaner and can be cheaper than diesel fuel. Transportation vehicles, such as sedans, vans, and SUVs, can be purchased in many different forms, including electric hybrid, full electric, natural gas, and flex fuel.
Goal
Create a plan that aims to reduce the amount of carbon emissions produced by vehicle operations, either by vehicle replacement or retrofit.
Objectives
- Conduct a cost benefit analysis for each fleet vehicle and projected new fleet vehicles on what technology or fuel type would be most affordable and efficient.
- Create a plan for vehicle replacement or upgrade.
- Evaluate vehicle emissions on a year to year basis.
Examples
Columbus Police Department Anti-Idling Retrofit
Connection to Other Plans
This idea potentially addresses the following elements of the MORPC Regional Sustainability Agenda:
| Element | Description | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| 1.6 | Reduce per capita energy consumption across all sectors. | Increases in efficiency would reduce energy consumption for the City of Whitehall. |
| 2.1 | Reduce emissions to meet federal air quality standards. | Converting to cleaner fuels would help achieve the MORPC Regional Sustainability Agenda's air quality goals. |
| 5.2 | Increase number of local governments committed to sustainability. | This conversion plan would display the City's committment to sustainable practices. |