KINGSTON – Ulster County’s government vehicle purchasing policy has just been more sustainable as County Executive Jen Metzger signed a local that makes zero-emissions vehicles the default purchase where possible and requires that 100 percent of all passenger vehicles and light-duty trucks be zero-emissions by 2035.
Metzger said the amended county green fleet policy will accelerate reductions of climate-damaging emissions from county operations.
“It’s actually more cost effective than gas powered vehicles because electricity costs less than gasoline. Just the electric engines are much more efficient. You don’t have to change the oil, so the maintenance costs are lower,” she said. “So, it is a financial win and also an environmental win for the county to make that shift.”
The county fleet consists of 477 vehicles in 27 different departments and divisions, some of which are already zero emissions.
Operation of the entire county fleet requires over 600,000 gallons of fuel yearly and generates over 5,000 metric tons of climate-damaging emissions annually.
