April 17, 2003
SEATTLE -- If Mayor Greg Nickels gets his way, all 791 compact cars in the city's fleet will be hybrids, use cleaner-burning alternative fuels or get at least 45 miles per gallon.
Nickels' Clean Green Fleet Action Plan, introduced yesterday, would achieve the goal by requiring half of the approximately 100 cars Seattle buys each year to be "clean green," said fleet director John Franklin, who estimates the entire compact fleet could meet Nickels' goal by 2008.
They mayor also called for the 395 diesel vehicles the fleet to use a blend of biodiesel and ultra-low sulfur diesel. Franklin said the conversion could be made by 2004.
Nickels also wants more of the city's water meter readers to use personal mobility vehicles, or Segways. Seattle is using 10 Segways in a pilot program.
Nickels said the city will complete a benefit-cost analysis of his proposal by the end of the year.
