Arkansas Department of
Environmental Quality
News Release
Contact:
David F. Kern, Media and Public Affairs Off=
icer
For release:
Telephone:
(501) 682-0916 =
Fax: (501) 682-0880
E-mail:
(Click HERE to view picture)
ADEQ
Director Marcus C. Devine says state agencies can improve air quality and s=
ave
money on gasoline, if they purchase hybrid vehicles powered by a combinatio=
n of
gasoline and electric batteries, for their fleets of cars.
Devin=
e said
ADEQ took the first step recently by purchasing a 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid. =
The
car automatically alternates between gasoline and battery power as driving
conditions warrant. The new hybrid gets nearly 50 miles per gallon, more th=
an
twice the ADEQ fleet average. ADEQ purchased the auto for $19,400 from Bale
Honda,
̶=
0;I
want our agency to set an example for other state agencies,” Devine s=
aid.
“We have a mission to protect, enhance and restore the environment. A=
nd
other state agencies can join us in this quest by purchasing and using these
vehicles.”
̶=
0;Buying
these vehicles makes good sense,” the ADEQ director said. “They=
get
great mileage and help reduce air pollution. Although the initial cost of t=
he
vehicles may be higher than comparable conventional gasoline-powered vehicl=
es,
the real saving comes from using less fuel and putting less pollution into =
the
air. Pollution prevention is a top priority at this time and will pay off in
the long run.”
“Beyond state government use,=
if
enough citizens start using these vehicles in
&=
nbsp; For e=
ach of
the past three years, Central Arkansas has approached the so-called
“non-attainment status” for high measures of ground-level ozone, a pollution
condition causing breathing problems in some people and crowning the
metropolitan area with a layer of haze. If
This =
past
summer, an unusual number of rainy days and mild temperatures, helped keep =
down
levels of air pollution normally associated with motor vehicles.
̶=
0;We’ve
had a good summer,” Tony Davis, manager of ADEQ’s Planning and =
Air
Quality Analysis Branch, said. “We want to keep reducing the amount of
ground-level ozone as much as we can every year. Mobile sources, such as ca=
rs
and trucks, are major contributors to air pollution in
ADEQ,
through permits and enforcement, has helped reduce ozone pollution from sou=
rces
such as factories and commercial operations. “We want to let people k=
now
they too can make a difference,”
ADEQ&=
#8217;s
new silver blue Honda Civic Hybrid is a four-door mid-sized sedan with a fo=
ur
cylinder gasoline-powered 85-horsepower internal combustion engine and a se=
t of
nickel-metal hydride batteries which power an electric motor.
ADEQ&=
#8217;s
hybrid is especially suitable for carrying small groups of people, and the
Department is considering buying more hybrids. “It’s a relative=
ly
simple procedure for state agencies buying vehicles with grant money or spe=
cial
funds,”, ADEQ Fiscal Division Chief James
Nunnley said. State agencies may request a hybrid through the motor vehicle
acquisition process administered by the Arkansas Department of Finance and
Administration.
"=
;If
experience with the hybrid shows savings and efficiency, hybrids may become
available on state contract, making it easier for more state agencies to buy
them," Nunnley said.
ADEQ is the second state agency to =
buy a
hybrid vehicle, after the Energy Office of the Arkansas Department of Econo=
mic
Development. Metroplan, the metropolitan transportation planning organizati=
on
for
Famil=
ies of
ADEQ employees already drive four hybrid vehicles. A Metroplan transportati=
on
planner and the
For m=
ore
information about:
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-f=
ont-family:
Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'>·
Hybrid vehicles, go to the U.S. Department of En=
ergy
web site, http://www.ott.doe.gov/he=
v/
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-f=
ont-family:
Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'>·
Ground-level ozone, go to the ADEQ web site at: =
http://www.ade=
q.state.ar.us/air/ozone/ozonedays.asp
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-f=
ont-family:
Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'>·
Ozone Action Days, go to the Metroplan web site =
at:
http://www.ozoneactiondays.org=
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-f=
ont-family:
Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'>·
Federal and state tax credits, go to a DOE web p=
age
at:
http://www.ccities.d=
oe.gov/vbg/progs/laws.cgi
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