Providence Water Readies to Purchase Gas/Electric Hybrid Cars
The purchase, the first of its kind by the City of Providence, will help benefit the environment and in the long run, have a benefit of future fuel cost savings
PROVIDENCE, RI – January 10, 2005 – The Providence Water Supply Board is about to make City of Providence history. The state’s largest water utility, serving 600,000 Rhode Islanders in more than a dozen communities, is about to receive authorization from the City of Providence Board of Contract and Supply to purchase two Honda Civic Gas/Electric Hybrid vehicles – the first such purchase of the fuel efficient, environmentally friendly automobiles for the City of Providence.
The Honda Civic Hybrid has an EPA fuel-efficiency rating of 48 miles per gallon for city driving and 47 miles per gallon for highway driving. Providence Water will be purchasing the two vehicles as part of a pilot program to evaluate the vehicle’s performance.
Providence Mayor David Cicilline is enthusiastic about the hybrid vehicle purchase. “These gas/electric hybrid vehicles will not only help strengthen our neighborhoods by protecting our environment, it will also save water ratepayer dollars," said Mayor Cicilline. "The purchase of these cars by the Water Supply Board is an example of how this administration is working to create a leaner, smarter government by identifying innovative ways to run city government more efficiently.”
Providence Water Chief Engineer and General Manager, Robert J. Kilduff, P.E., Esq., agrees that the purchase of the Hybrid vehicles underscores Providence Water’s concern for the environment and its ratepayers. “Holding the line on our utility’s consumption of fossil fuels is a worthy goal,” stated Kilduff. “And doing our part to protect our neighborhood’s air quality while saving on fuel costs will be a win-win situation for everyone.”
Kilduff credits two Providence Water employees for their work in achieving the milestone event -- Manager Antonio Araujo and Supervisor Frank Lombardo, who has served as the Providence Water delegate to Ocean State Clean Cities Coalition a locally-based private/public partnership formed in 1998 to improve air quality and increase energy independence.
From City of Providence Press Release
