USU Receives DOE Grant for Hybrid Vehicles
Utah State University recently received a grant from Utah Clean Cities and the U.S. Department of Energy to offset the incremental cost of 15 hybrid vehicles purchased by the university. The $2,000 per vehicle grant will serve as a rebate for hybrid vehicles purchased by various departments and used for university business.
Departments at USU are encouraged to use fuel-efficient vehicles whenever possible to minimize the university’s carbon footprint.
“Commuting is the highest portion of USU’s carbon footprint,” said Kevin Phillips, USU fleet manager. “We are mandated by state law to increase our efficiencies and reduce fuel consumption so utilizing hybrids make sense. The $2,000 rebate helps us recover some of the incremental cost for the vehicles as well as validates our continued use of alternative fuel vehicles at USU.”
Nat Frazer, chairman of the USU Sustainability Council, agrees.
“USU is committed to enhancing the quality of life for individuals and communities by promoting sustainability in its operations and academic and service missions,” said Frazer. “Receiving the rebates reinforces our efforts towards becoming a sustainable campus.”
The only condition of receiving the grant is that the vehicles have to display a decal in the rear window that reads “Clean Advanced Technology Vehicle” as well as the Clean Cities logo. The vehicles will also have to be made available from time-to-time for a brief inspection by Department of Energy auditors.
The funding is part of another larger grant originally obtained by USU Parking and Transportation for its compressed natural gas buses.
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Writer: Paige Pagnucco, 435-797-1429, paige.pagnucco@usu.edu
Contact: Kevin Phillips, 435-797-1973, kevin.phillips@usu.edu
Contact: Nat Frazer, 435-797-0523, nat.frazer@usu.edu
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