Copyright © 2007 San Francisco Sentinel
Flanked by several hybrid taxicabs, Mayor Newsom today urged the City’s Taxi Commission to approve a resolution that gradually reduces, offsets, and eliminates greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) in taxis by 2020.
In his 2006 State of the City Address, Mayor Newsom pledged to convert 100% of San Francisco taxis to hybrid or alternative fuel vehicles by 2011. This resolution would provide the mandate to help achieve that goal and take it even further.
The resolution specifically requires the San Francisco taxi industry to reduce its total greenhouse gas emissions by 50% from current levels and 20% from 1990 levels by 2011. Recent estimates show that converting the City’s taxi fleet to hybrid or compressed natural gas vehicles is expected to reduce taxi emissions between 30-60%.
Even with a 20% reduction of greenhouse gases from 1990 levels, the San Francisco taxi fleet will still produce over 30,000 tons of GHG per year. Therefore, the resolution calls for investments in renewable energy or efficiency as well, which provide a mechanism for the taxi industry to significantly offset its GHG emissions.
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