HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 06-01-1999 - 5b
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: June 1, 1999
Action Age
Item No. ~
SUBJECT: Resolution on Purchasing Low-Emission Vehicles
DEPARTMENT: Environment and Resource PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
Conservation
ATTACHMENT(S):
Background on Proposed Resolution
5/10/99 CFE Resolution
Proposed BOCC Resolution
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dave Stancil, ext 2590
TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
Hillsborough 732-8181
Chapel Hill 968-4501
Durham 688-7331
Mebane 336-227-2031
PURPOSE: To consider a resolution from the Commission for the Environment asking the
County to investigate and choose low-emission and fuel-efficient vehicles.
BACKGROUND: The Commission for the Environment's (CFE) Air Quality Committee has been
working on efforts to help improve air quality, many of which relate to vehicle emissions. At their
May 10 meeting, the Commission agreed to forward a resolution asking the County to
investigate and, where feasible, purchase low-emission or fuel-efficient vehicles. Low-emission
vehicles have become more prevalent on the market in recent years, and information on
purchase programs in the state of California is available to help develop a means of evaluating
low-emission vehicle purchases.
Staff has prepared a resolution for the Board's consideration, which would direct County staff to
investigate, and where possible, choose low-emission vehicles. The ERC Director, Purchasing
Director and Public Works Director will meet with other staff on the feasibility of developing a
procedure for exploring low-emission vehicle purchases, including an evaluation of the financial
implications of such purchases.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The financial impact on the County is undetermined at this time. Further
research will be needed to evaluate the cost of low-emission vehicle purchases against the
current standard.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board adopt the proposed
resolution.
2
Background on Proposed CFE Resolution on a Recommendation that Orange County
Use Vehicle Emissions and Fuel Economy as Criteria in County Vehicle Procurements
There are many approaches available for reducing vehicle emissions and increasing fuel
economy, some of which are addressed in another CFE resolution. The purpose of this
resolution is to promote the immediate implementation of one simple approach that is currently
available -- to direct all agencies of the County to use vehicle emissions and fuel economy as a
criteria in all County vehicle procurements.
New-vehicle emission standards have been improving over time. Currently, there are a number
of initiatives that have resulted in some models of "low emission vehicles" (LEVs) being
available across the U.S., and more such vehicles will be available in the next few years as
California and national LEV programs progress. Due to varying vehicle standards by vehicle
type and weight, there are also considerable differences in the emissions and fuel efficiencies of
vehicles that could be used for the same purposes, particularly in the truck/van/utility vehicle
categories. Where it does not impact critical performance criteria for vehicles such as police
and fire vehicles, adding emissions and fuel economy as ahigh-priority criteria for the selection
of vehicles by the County should considerably reduce the contribution of County vehicles to the
carbon monoxide, hydrocarbon and nitrogen oxide emissions of our area, as well as saving fuel
and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
A separate resolution proposes developing a County plan for longer-range initiatives such as
the use of alternative-fuel vehicles. However, many of the available LEVs are standard gasoline
vehicles with advanced control systems and some are the standard models in their lines and, as
such, easily deployed in the County fleet.
Additional information on LEV programs is available from the California Air Resources Board's
"Buyer's Guide to Cleaner Cars" (http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/ccbg/ccbg.htm), which lists
specific models and engine families currently certified to California's progressive LEV standards
and the federal EPA Office of Mobile Sources' "National Low Emission Vehicle Program" WWVV
page (http://www.epa.gov/OMSWWW/lev-nlev.htm), which describes the anticipated progress of
regulated LEV sales across the U.S. In addition, some local vehicle dealers are aware of LEVs
in their inventories, and other dealers and/or manufacturers should be able to provide similar
information for the County's consideration. Information of the fuel economy of new vehicles is
available from the annual "Fuel Economy Guide" (http://www.eren.doe.gov/feguide~.
(It should be noted that gasoline quality is a critical issue for some of the most advanced LEVs.
The current sulfur levels of our gasoline supply should probably be checked to determine if this
may be a concern for vehicles being considered for procurement.)
ORANGE COUNTY COMMISSION FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Orange County should attempt to reduce emissions and improve the fuel economy
of its vehicle fleet, and
WHEREAS, there are vehicles currently on the market in North Carolina that have substantially
lower emissions than the average new vehicle, and there are also often significant differences
in the emissions and fuel economy of otherwise-comparable vehicles,
NOW, THEREFORE, LET IT BE RESOLVED
That the Commission for the Environment recommends that the Orange County Board of
Commissioners request that the County Manager instruct all County offices engaged in
procurement of County vehicles to investigate and choose low emission and fuel efficient
vehicles in the procurement process.
THIS, THE 10T" DAY OF MAY, 1999.
Loraine Kohorn, Chair
Commission for the Environment
ATTEST:
Carol Crawford
Administrative Assistant