WHEREAS, Through the recent boom in natural gas production and application of new technologies, the conversion from fossil fuel to compressed natural gas in powering vehicles is becoming more prevalent due to the lower cost and reduced emissions; and
WHEREAS, Throughout the United States private companies with large fleets of vehicles have been converting gasoline and diesel powered vehicles to run on compressed natural gas for the purpose of cost savings and environmental responsibility; and
WHEREAS, Beginning in 2008, cities and municipalities in the Midwest and West coast began converting fleet vehicles to operate on compressed natural gas and replacing older vehicles with those designed to operate on compressed natural gas; and
WHEREAS, The long term financial impact could result in cost savings for the City due to compressed natural gas being roughly half the cost traditional gasoline; and
WHEREAS, The conversion of fleet vehicles from gasoline and diesel power to compressed natural gas would be consistent with Philadelphia's image as the Greenest City in America; now therefore be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it hereby authorizes Council's Committee on Global Opportunities and the Creative/Innovative Economy to hold hearings to investigate the economic and environmental impact of converting Philadelphia's fleet vehicles to run on compressed natural gas and other alternative fuels.
End