Hein, LeValle, others, with one of the county’s plug-in vehicles
KINGSTON – Ulster County government will exceed its goal of converting five percent of its vehicle fleet to “green” fuel in 2017, three years ahead of the 2020 goal, County Executive Michael Hein announced on Wednesday. He said the county has proven that while setting a strong environmental record, fiscal responsibility does not have to suffer.
“We are transitioning a big portion of the county fleet to hybrid vehicles making it the equivalent of 70 miles per gallon and saving taxpayers an enormous amount of money,” Hein said. “We continue to try to lead the way when it comes to being environmentally responsible, but we are trying to do it also in a way that protects taxpayers and that is the most exciting part, being fiscally and socially responsible, too.”
The county has also installed 15 electric charging stations for all-electric vehicles and the Ulster County Chamber of Commerce is picking up the tab for those.
Amanda LaValle, the county’s coordinator of the Department of the
Environment, said the new plug-in hybrid electric vehicles are three times
more fuel efficient, produce one-third of the emissions and cost half
as much to operate over the course of a year.
Hein also commended the bipartisan cooperation and effort of the county
legislature in making all of this possible.
