County Commission Looking to Zap Fossil Fuels

We're inching up to national and local elections so it isn't surprising to see our favorite politicians taking on projects that energize their constituents.  Oil leaks in the Gulf and gasoline reaching past $3 a gallon again makes people wonder what will replace fossil fuels.  Electric vehicles have been in the news off an on the past few years with the Chevy Volt slated for release later this year--the first mass-produced electric vehicle intended for the daily commute on US highways.  All of this is great except that one nagging question: where do you fill up its "tank"?  Well, our esteemed County Commission has taken up that question:

May 20, 2010

Hillsborough County Takes A Step Toward The Tampa Bay Region Plugging Into Electric Vehicles

At the Hillsborough County Board of Commissioners regular meeting yesterday (May 19), the Board unanimously approved a resolution supporting the first steps toward region-wide electrical vehicle usage. The measure was brought forward by the County’s Energy Management & Sustainability Workgroup, created by Hillsborough County Commissioner Rose Ferlita.

The resolution passed yesterday supports Project Get Ready, the work of the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council, which is studying a regional approach to bringing the changes necessary for electrical vehicles. Each electric car brings about a 66 percent reduction in carbon emissions, while providing daily travel for less than $1 a day.

Project Get Ready was brought to the County’s Energy Management & Sustainability Workgroup several weeks ago, where it received full support leading to yesterday’s action.

“I am thrilled to continue the momentum, to get regional talk under way, and to bring our government and private sectors together to discuss the future of electrical vehicles,” said Commissioner Rose Ferlita. “Planning needs to be done today to accommodate the public’s desire for these vehicles, attractive both for their cost savings and less pollution.”

The Hillsborough County Energy Management & Sustainability Workgroup, under the leadership of Commissioner Rose Ferlita, is in the process of creating a regional task force to look at issues like all alternatively fueled vehicles…a regional task force looking at regional issues with a regional focus from the Hillsborough County Energy Group.

The Energy Management & Sustainability Workgroup’s focus has also led to the first regional energy forum in January and the soon-to-be-under way Climate Action Plan. A second energy forum is being planned for this fall. For more information, contact Della Cury or Sandy Ottino, Aides to Commissioner Rose Ferlita, ( 813 ) 272-5470