Otter orders more state fuel-efficiency

BOISE – Gov. Butch Otter has signed an executive order aimed at bolstering the fuel efficiency of the state’s fleet of vehicles and limiting future acquisitions of sport utility vehicles to reduce the state’s contribution to greenhouse gas emissions.

The order is also designed to trim whenever possible the purchase and consumption of fossil fuels.

“The state of Idaho can and should lead by example, managing its state vehicle fleet to improve and protect air quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce the amount of fossil fuels purchased and used,” according to the order signed Dec. 20.

Under the new rules, all executive branch departments, agencies and offices should attempt to decrease gasoline and diesel fuel consumption by using more fuel-efficient cars and trucks, increasing operating efficiency and cutting back on the amount of miles logged each year by employees.

State agencies must show a clear business need before buying four-wheel drive, SUVs and other specialty vehicles. And buying and using hybrid or other fuel-efficient, low-emission vehicles has been declared a priority.

The order requires the Division of Purchasing to identify a list of vehicles that fall under the new mandate and any purchase outside the list must be signed by the agency director or administrator.

“It’s just an effort to get a handle on our greenhouse gas emissions,” said Otter spokesman Jon Hanian. “He felt the state needs to be taking the lead on this issue and coming up with proactive solutions to this problem.”

Hanian said Otter acknowledges his own contribution to emission problems that plague Treasure Valley air quality. On days Otter drives himself to work from his ranch in Star, west of Boise, to the Capitol, Hanian said the governor drives a new diesel pickup truck.

“He’s admitted he’s just as much a part of the problem as anyone,” Hanian said.

Still, the order is the latest in a series of steps taken by Otter to get a better handle on Idaho’s carbon footprint.

In August, the governor added the state to The Climate Registry, a database seeking to compile a national inventory of greenhouse gas emissions. In early 2007, Otter ordered state agencies to do their own inventory of greenhouse gas emissions and to look for ways to reduce them.

With its reliance on hydropower, Idaho ranks among the nation’s lowest contributors of greenhouse gases. In an analysis of all 50 states, Idaho ranked 47th overall and contributed about 14 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere based on 2003 figures.

But the analysis also showed that more than half of the state’s emissions came from cars and trucks.

“Anything we can do to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, whether it’s in transportation or power generation, is a positive thing,” said Ken Miller, clean energy program director for the Snake River Alliance.