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WESTCHESTER COUNTY, N.Y. – Members of the Westchester County Board of Legislators have set a meeting regarding the Green Vehicles Sustainable Savings Act, which would strengthen the county law which aims to ensure that high mileage, electric hybrid or alternative fuel vehicles are purchased for use by county officials and employees.
The new legislation was introduced by Legislators Ken Jenkins (D-Yonkers) and Catherine Parker (D-Rye), who is chair of the Environment and Energy Committee.
“Westchester County needs to do a much better job in transitioning its fleet of vehicles away from low mileage, heavy emission models and toward those that will reduce fuel costs and lower the environmental impact while in use,” said Parker. “Eliminating the loophole in the county law that allows the administration to stick with bigger, gas guzzling vehicles will save taxpayer dollars and help protect our environment. When it comes to making the air we breathe safer and cleaner, every remedy should be followed.”
At a recent meeting of the board's Environment and Energy Committee, White Plains Mayor Tom Roach spoke in favor of the new legislation, according to a press release.
Last year, the city of White Plains earned certification in the Empire Green Fleets program for having 50 to 75 alternative fueled vehicles in its fleet of more than 300 vehicles, which includes school buses, passenger cars, trucks, and commercial vehicles. Using fuels such as B20 biodiesel, compressed natural gas and ethanol, White Plains has reduced its fossil-fuel usage by about 23 percent and greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 12 percent, according to a press release.
Members of the board's Environment and Energy, Infrastructure and Legislation committees approved the public hearing.
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