Transportation

Greening Government Goal: "By June 30, 2012, the state of Colorado will reduce volumetric petroleum consumption in state fleet vehicles by 25% from state fiscal year 2005-06 baseline. 50% of state fleet fuel purchases will be alternative fuels and 20% of state fleet diesel vehicles fueled with biodiesel."

The Greening Government Coordinating Council conducted a transportation audit to review the efficiency of the state fleet, surveyed employee commute patterns, and to develop strategies to reduce the environmental impact of both. Read the audit report here (PDF 319 KB). Greening Government has also completed an employee commute survey to help identify the best strategies for reducing emissions from employee commuting. See the results of the survey in the How Are We Doing? section.

Our focus on greening fleet operations and employee commutes will benefit the people of Colorado through increased energy independence, reduced environmental impacts and traffic congestion, and increased investment in alternative vehicle and fuel technology.

According to the U.S. EPA, driving a car is the single most polluting thing that most individuals do. Motor vehicles emit millions of tons of pollutants in the air each year. In many urban areas, motor vehicles are the largest contributor to ground level ozone, a major component of smog. Cars also emit several pollutants classified as toxic. These toxins are suspected of contributing to over 1,500 cases of cancer each year in the United States.

The burning of fossil fuels also contributes to the release of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere, which many scientists believe contribute to the warming of the planet and can have an effect on global weather patterns. These changes in weather patterns can alter regional precipitation totals and effect crop yields, water supplies and recreation opportunities such as skiing and rafting. Scientists currently are unable to determine which parts of the United States will become wetter or dryer, but there is likely to be an overall trend toward increased precipitation and evaporation, more intense rainstorms, and drier soils.

Pollution control measures have drastically reduced emissions from vehicles in the past 20 years; however, during that same time the total miles traveled has doubled, resulting in higher levels of air pollutants in many parts of the country. In 2005, the state of Colorado’s fleet alone burned over 4.2 million gallons of fuel in its vehicles, leading to the addition of 84 million pounds of CO2 being released into the atmosphere.

Actions and Strategies for State Agencies

The Greening Government Council and the Governor's Energy Office (GEO) advocates and provides assistance with the following action steps to move Colorado agencies towards achieving optimal transportation efficiency.

The Greening Government Program, in conjunction with the Department of Personnel and Administration (DPA) and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment are currently conducting a transportation efficiency audit.  The results of this audit will be reported to Governor Ritter by December 1, 2007. 

The purpose of the audit is to evaluate current state practices and make recommendations regarding:

• Appropriate vehicle utilization rate and size of agency fleets
• Appropriate age and mileage for vehicle turnover to maximize performance and minimize maintenance costs and environmental impact
• Environmental costs and benefits of personal vehicle use and reimbursement policies
• Strategies for improving the overall efficiency of acquiring, using and maintaining all vehicles in the state fleet
• Cost effectiveness of car-sharing services
• Increasing opportunities for employee use of ride-sharing and mass transit on business travel
• Exploration of support for employee transit options

As part of this process, the Greening Council shall work with DPA to evaluate the state fleet and develop suggestions regarding how to increase average fuel efficiency and use of alternative fuels in state vehicles.

You need not wait for the audit results to begin reducing petroleum consumption. Visit the State Fleet Management web site to view steps you can take immediately to help achieve the petroleum consumption reduction goals and reduce your impact on the environment.

Helpful Contacts

For information regarding alternative fuels such as E-85 Ethanol and Biodiesel, visit our Biofuels page.

Locate alternative fuel stations near you with the Alternative Fuels Station Locator.

National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) Advanced Vehicle and Fuels

Environmental Protection Agency

The Governor's Energy Office Greening Government Program Manager

Find your agency's Greening Government Coordinating Council Representative