Women's Media Nation | Social, political, and cultural issues relating to women

US Government Fleet To Get A Little Greener

posted by AskPatty - Auto Advice
Monday, April 20, 2009 at 7:58pm CDT

More than 17,600 American-made, fuel-efficient cars and hybrids will soon be entering the government fleet, thanks to President Barack Obama. Putting his money (or more aptly, your money) where his mouth is, the president plans to use $285 million in Federal stimulus funds by June 1st to buy fuel-efficient vehicles from General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler, including 2,500 hybrid sedans, the largest one-time purchase of hybrids for the federal fleet to date.

"This is only a first step, but I will continue to ensure that we are working to support the American auto industry during this difficult period of restructuring," Obama said in a statement.

But there's a catch: each vehicle has to have better fuel economy than the one it replaces as they are intended to reduce the government's gasoline consumption by 1.3 million gallons a year and keep 26 million pounds of carbon-dioxide from entering the atmosphere.

And it gets even better--an additional $15 billion has been pledged by the GSA (General Services Administration) to test advanced technology vehicles, such as compressed natural gas buses and all-electric vehicles by Sept. 30.

Obama, who himself drives a Ford Escape Hybrid, also pledged to pass a "cash-for-clunkers" bill, to offer cash incentives to consumers to trade in their older, fuel-inefficient cars for cleaner models.

During his campaign, Obama spoke of his desire to convert the White House fleet to battery-powered vehicles within the year and by 2012 to have half the cars the federal government buys to be plug-in hybrids or electric.

Obviously the man gets it.

By Matt Kelly
Green Guest Blogger

Matt Kelly has a passion for sharing stories and hosting conversations with leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs who are developing alternative fuel and energy technologies that are transforming the vehicles we drive. An auto buff since the age of 4, starting when he backed the family car out of the driveway into oncoming traffic, much to his parents surprise and dismay, Matt is also an avid antique and classic car enthusiast and currently lives in Hollywood, where he has a large Matchbox and Hot Wheels toy car collection. Read other stories by Matt at his LA Alternative Transportation page at Examiner.com

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