Sierra Club officials pulled a small caravan of hybrid cars ó gas/electric powered vehicles ó in front of the Capitol Tuesday (Nov. 1) in an effort to get local government thinking about ìgreen fleets.î Rep. Frank Hornstein, DFL-Minneapolis, said the hybrids are one of the best ways the driving public can slow the effects of global warming. Some American cities have moved toward the use of hybrid vehicles, such as a Toyota Prius, and actually find them more affordable long-term than gasoline-powered vehicles. According to the Sierra Club, the city of Charlotte is working to bring the total number of hybrids in its fleet to more than two dozen by the end of next year. Although hybrid vehicles cost more initially than traditional vehicles, they require less maintenance, less gas, and have a higher resale value, itís argued. A Charlotte city fleet analyst estimates that a total conversion of the city fleet from gas-only vehicles to hybrids would save city taxpayers as much as $1200 annually per vehicle. ó Tim Budig, ECM Capitol Reporter

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