Executive Order 19

"Effective March 1, 2006, purchases of motor vehicles by the City shall be limited to alternative fuel vehicles."

 

- From an executive order by Mayor Martin Chávez

Spreading the Green Message

City Officials display our Honda hybrid vehicles at Eldorado High School as part of outreach efforts.

Leading by Example

Mayor Chávez drives an E-85 powered Chevrolet Avalanche. In this photo, he takes part in the 2006 NM State Fair parade.

Alternative Fuels

Mayor Chávez is serious about alternatives to imported gas and oil. Under his guidance, the City is converting its fleet of vehicles to alternative fuels including biodiesel, ethanol, and compressed natural gas.

In March 2006, Mayor Chávez issued Executive Order 19 which directs that all purchases of motor vehicles by the City shall be limited to alternative fuel vehicles.

• Purchase Alternative Fuel Vehicles - Mayor Chávez has set a goal to convert the 100% of the City fleet to alternative fuel capable vehicles. 
• Alternative Fuel Use - Mayor Chávez has set a goal to use 100% alternative fuels for the City's fleet.  
• Police Units Going Green - As a continuing effort to comply with Executive Instruction-19, APD recently purchased additional E85-vehicles adding to the total number of alternatively fueled vehicles.  Departments throughout the City are committed to having a 100% alternative fuel capable fleet.

 Biodiesel

• 1200 City fleet and support vehicles, including trash trucks, fire trucks, and street sweepers, are powered by a mixture of biodiesel and petroleum diesel.
• The City's primary fueling facilities dispense biodiesel.
• More than a million gallons of biodiesel have been dispensed to City of Albuquerque vehicles.

Read more >>

Ethanol

• Each winter, every gas station in Albuquerque is required to mix its gasoline with at least 7.8% ethanol. This mix, called "oxygenated fuel," reduces  carbon monoxide emissions from vehicles. Albuquerque/Bernalillo County was one of the first seven communities in the nation to implement an oxygenated fuels program in 1989! Read more >>
  
• The City is currently working to encourage year-round sale of ethanol-enriched fuel to reduce carbon monoxide emissions.
• Mayor Chávez drives an 85% ethanol vehicle.
• The City currently owns 364 ethanol-ready vehicles.

Read more >>

Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) 

• The City Planning division uses Honda Civics that run off compressed natural gas. These vehicles have the lowest maintenance cost throughout the entire City fleet!
• The City runs four compressed natural gas fueling stations.

Read more >>

Locate Alternative Fuel

Finding stations for alternative fuels in Albuquerque is easy. The U.S. Energy Department hosts a search engine that locates suppliers for your specific alternative fuel. So if you use biodiesel, ethanol, propane or something else in your vehicle, check out the Energy Department's fuel locator. 

Fuel Conservation

Experts are projecting high energy and fuel costs in the future. These high prices can have a significant impact on the City operating budgets if not properly anticipated and managed. To reduce the impact of rising prices, Mayor Chávez and his staff are implementing the following fuel conservation efforts:

• The most fuel efficient vehicles are being assigned to City staff that drives the most.
• Old, inefficient vehicles are being replaced with hybrids or alternative fuel vehicles, with fuel efficiency as the primary objective.
• City employees are limiting non-essential travel for City business.
• City employees are being encouraged to use the smallest vehicle possible.

• A No-Idling Policy is being implemented for City vehicles to encourage drivers to turn off their vehicles when they might otherwise idle and waste fuel. Read more >>
  

• City employees are re-justifying their use of take-home vehicles.
• The City is considering the use of free bus passes to City employees for both City business and personal use.