US Mayors Unanimously Endorse PHEVs

LAS VEGAS­June 5, 2006­The U.S. Conference of
Mayors today unanimously endorsed a resolution
encouraging the use of plug-in hybrid vehicles as
an important step in reducing this country’s
reliance on foreign oil and decreasing greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles.


Plug-in hybrid vehicles would combine today’s new
gas-electric hybrid technology with larger
batteries that could provide an all-electric
operating range of 25 miles to 35 miles or
more. The result is an 80+ mile-per-gallon
vehicle­with even greater fuel economy possible
using biofuels. With gas prices now near $3
per-gallon, plug-in hybrids offer the potential
for a consumer to save on their fuel charges as
an ‘electric’ gallon of gas is less than $1.


The resolution endorses the national Plug-in
Partners initiative, which is leading an effort
to urge automakers to manufacture flexible fuel
plug-in hybrid vehicles, pushing for government
funding for incentives and demonstration
vehicles, gathering soft fleet orders, and
promoting a consumer petition campaign in support of the effort.


The resolution was submitted by 13 mayors: Mayor
Will Wynn of Austin, Mayor Thomas Menino of
Boston, Mayor Dr. Robert Cluck of Arlington, VA,
Mayor Patrick H. Hays of North Little Rock, AK,
Mayor Rocky Anderson of Salt Lake City, Mayor
Henry Garret of Corpus Christi, TX, Mayor John
Hickenlooper of Denver, Mayor Greg Nickels of
Seattle, Mayor Ardell Brede of Rochester, NY,
Mayor Martin J. Chavez of Albuquerque, Mayor
David Berger of Lima, OH, Mayor Kitty Piercy of
Eugene, OR, and Mayor Miguel Pulido of Santa Ana, CA.


This vote shows the increasing interest in
plug-in hybrids,” said Austin Mayor Will Wynn,
who has been leading the national Plug-in
Partners campaign. “Plug-in hybrids reduce
dependency on foreign oil, lower fuel costs for
cities and their citizens, reduce air pollution
in our cities, and increase the use of renewable energy.


The Plug-in Partners campaign, launched in
January 2006, includes a wide array of cities and
other municipalities, public utilities, national
and local environmental groups, and national
security organizations. A citizen petition form
and additional information is available at www.pluginpartners.org.


For More Information:
Media: Frank Walter, fwalter@impalacom.com, 202-299-0300
Membership: Daryl Slusher, daryl.slusher@austinenergy.com, 512-322-6210


ENCOURAGING THE USE OF PLUG-IN HYBRID VEHICLES


1. WHEREAS, American over-reliance on foreign oil
is a growing and serious threat to the national
security and economic vitality of the United States;


2. WHEREAS, the United States of America, with
less than five percent of the world's population,
is responsible for producing approximately 25
percent of the world's global warming pollutants; and


3. WHEREAS, petroleum combustion accounts for
about 40% of all U.S. CO2 emissions.


4. WHEREAS, oil is only used to generate 2% of American electricity;


5. WHEREAS, recent, well-documented impacts of
climate disruption include average global sea
level increases of four to eight inches during
the 20th century; a 40 percent decline in Arctic
sea-ice thickness; and nine of the ten hottest
years on record occurring in the past decade; and


6. WHEREAS, the U.S. Conference of Mayors has
previously adopted strong policy resolutions
calling for cities, communities and the federal
government to take actions to reduce global warming pollution; and


7. WHEREAS, the 73rd annual U.S. Conference of
Mayors endorsed the U.S. Mayors Climate
Protection Agreement as amended by the meeting
and urged mayors from around the nation to join this effort;


8. WHEREAS, plug-in hybrid vehicles can
dramatically reduce reliance on imported oil and
decrease greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants generated by vehicles;


9. WHEREAS, plug-in hybrid technology can
accomplish reductions in greenhouse gas
reductions and reliance on oil more quickly than other emerging technologies;


10. WHEREAS, plug-in hybrids can be manufactured
with flexible fuel engines thus increasing business for American agriculture;


11. WHEREAS, plug-in hybrid vehicles will also
help American citizens and businesses save on fuel costs


12. WHEREAS, the City of Austin is leading the
Plug-In Partners campaign to encourage automakers
to manufacture flexible fuel plug-in hybrids and
to demonstrate a demand for such vehicles;


13. WHEREAS, Cities all across America are
providing leadership in fighting climate change;


14. WHEREAS, American cities working together can
effectively address challenges facing our cities and our nation;


15. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the U.S.
Conference of Mayors endorses the Plug-In
Partners initiative and urges mayors from around
the nation to join this effort.


16. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the U.S.
Conference of Mayors urges automakers to
manufacture flexible fuel plug-in hybrid vehicles;


17. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the U.S.
Conference of Mayors encourages its mayors to
submit "soft" or "advance" fleet orders to the
Plug-In Partners initiative, which only commit
the City to seriously consider the purchase, but shows interest to automakers;


18. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the U.S.
Conference of Mayors encourages its members to
support federal and state legislation that funds
incentives, demonstration projects, and fleet
orders for plug-in hybrid vehicles.