Last year, the Portland Water District began investigating ways to reduce fuel consumption and harmful carbon emissions by partnering with Portland officials and other civic leaders to jointly explore options.
In late December, the district’s board of trustees adopted a vehicle idling policy. The policy supports the district’s commitment to the environment and addresses concerns over escalating fuel costs. In 2006, fuel costs are expected to nearly double previously budgeted amounts. The district manages a fleet of more than 100 vehicles and multiple contractors. All vehicles will be subject to the new anti-idling guidelines. A list of safety exemptions are provided to protect employees and commuters.
In addition to the anti-idling policy, the district will be piloting hybrid vehicles by replacing two current vehicles with hybrid trucks and monitoring their effectiveness.
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