News
The City of Rifle has proven that it's ready to move toward being a more energy efficient community, and now city officials have taken yet another step in increasing the city's had at reducing carbon emissions.
In June, the city passed a resolution in support of developing an efficient fleet policy. Staying true to its word, the city has recently purchased four electric vehicles for use in various departments. As of Aug. 31, the city had received one of the new vehicles and was expecting the remaining vehicles to arrive within the next week.
City Manager John Hier could hardly wait for the new vehicles to arrive.
“I think the staff is looking forward to trying them out,” he said. “I think it will be a good experience.”
City council approved the purchase of four electric vehicles at it's Aug. 4 meeting. The four vehicles were purchased form Aspen Electric Vehicles. The city purchased one electric van, one electric four-door sedan and two electric three-wheel trucks.
According to Hier, the Rifle Police Department will use the van for Animal Control services, the two three-wheeled trucks will go to the Parks Maintenance Department.
“The two for the city parks department are smaller-sized pickups that are capable to move around the park trails around town, which is a little nicer than a full-size pickup,” Hier said.
City employees will be able to take the electric sedan for a spin. The car will be available for running around town for employees at City Hall as needed, Hier said.
“We believe it will save considerably on fuel and related costs,” Hier said.
The new parking garage being constructed adjacent to City Hall, which is part of the new Garfield County Library District's new library facility, will include hook ups for these types of electric vehicles, Hier said.
The total cost of the vehicles was $48,375, however the purchase will be reimbursed by the Governor's New Energy Communities Initiative (GNECI) grant, according to a memo from city parks maintenance director Tom Whitmore, and city manager John Hier.
Hier said that the purchase was just another way that the city has promised to be more energy conscious.
“It's in line with our city's long-term goals to be more energy efficient,” he said.
These are the first electric vehicles in the city's fleet and, Hier said, that this is a sort of test run to determine if the city will look into purchasing more in the future.
“It's a first effort to see how these work out here,” he said. “We need to give them a fair trial before we purchase more.”
In June, the city passed a resolution in support of developing an efficient fleet policy. Staying true to its word, the city has recently purchased four electric vehicles for use in various departments. As of Aug. 31, the city had received one of the new vehicles and was expecting the remaining vehicles to arrive within the next week.
City Manager John Hier could hardly wait for the new vehicles to arrive.
“I think the staff is looking forward to trying them out,” he said. “I think it will be a good experience.”
City council approved the purchase of four electric vehicles at it's Aug. 4 meeting. The four vehicles were purchased form Aspen Electric Vehicles. The city purchased one electric van, one electric four-door sedan and two electric three-wheel trucks.
According to Hier, the Rifle Police Department will use the van for Animal Control services, the two three-wheeled trucks will go to the Parks Maintenance Department.
“The two for the city parks department are smaller-sized pickups that are capable to move around the park trails around town, which is a little nicer than a full-size pickup,” Hier said.
City employees will be able to take the electric sedan for a spin. The car will be available for running around town for employees at City Hall as needed, Hier said.
“We believe it will save considerably on fuel and related costs,” Hier said.
The new parking garage being constructed adjacent to City Hall, which is part of the new Garfield County Library District's new library facility, will include hook ups for these types of electric vehicles, Hier said.
The total cost of the vehicles was $48,375, however the purchase will be reimbursed by the Governor's New Energy Communities Initiative (GNECI) grant, according to a memo from city parks maintenance director Tom Whitmore, and city manager John Hier.
Hier said that the purchase was just another way that the city has promised to be more energy conscious.
“It's in line with our city's long-term goals to be more energy efficient,” he said.
These are the first electric vehicles in the city's fleet and, Hier said, that this is a sort of test run to determine if the city will look into purchasing more in the future.
“It's a first effort to see how these work out here,” he said. “We need to give them a fair trial before we purchase more.”
