Fredericksburg Police To Study Converting Vehicles To Clean Fuels

FREDERICKSBURG, VA — The Fredericksburg Police Department is partnering with Virginia Clean Cities on a pilot project involving the department's vehicle fleet. The effort is in response to the Fredericksburg City Council's "Clean and Green" commitment and its adoption of a 100-percent renewable energy resolution.

The police department's vehicle fleet consists of 39 patrol vehicles and 22 administrative vehicles. Working with Virginia Clean Cities, the department is aiming to reduce oil consumption and carbon and other harmful emissions from its vehicles. The department will seek guidance from VCC on converting police vehicles to cleaner-burning fuels or to fully electric vehicles.

The police department's clean fuels effort could serve as a model for the remainder of the city of Fredericksburg's vehicle fleet, the city said Monday in a news release.

Electrify Virginia, a Virginia Clean Cities project launched in 2019, provides no-cost assistance to municipalities for planning and is supported by a grant to help plan for electric vehicles in Virginia in the heavy-duty vehicle sector. VCC also provides planning assistance for all fuels through other programs.

"This new partnership is a significant first step for bringing the city’s police fleet of vehicles into this important green planning for Fredericksburg," the city said.

The Fredericksburg City Council adopted the 100% Renewable Energy Resolution in December 2019 and committed to the goal of powering municipal operations with 100-percent renewable energy by 2035.

The city also is looking at adding solar energy to Fredericksburg City Schools and other public buildings in the city.

The International Panel on Climate Change has warned that average planetary warming must be limited to less than 2 degrees Celsius, or about 3.5 degrees Fahrenheit, since preindustrial levels to avoid major disruptions to live on the planet.

The city previously adopted the programs of the Clean and Green Commission, enacted a C-PACE ordinance to help local businesses finance energy efficiency, participated in the George Washington Planning Region’s Climate, Environment and Readiness Plan, and partnered with Tree Fredericksburg to enhance and manage the city’s urban forest.

Founded in 1996, Virginia Clean Cities is headquartered out of James Madison University. It provides technical assistance to Virginia’s 872 alternative fuel stations and 100 alternative fuel fleets. In 2019, VCC reduced fuel use by 36.4 million gallons of gasoline and diesel and 151,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions.

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