CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The newest vehicle in the Kanawha County fleet is a 2013 black Chevy Tahoe but it’s actually green. The SUV is fueled by compressed natural gas or CNG. It’s the third county vehicle switched over to alternative fuels.
The Tahoe was on display Wednesday at the courthouse in Charleston.
County Commissioner Dave Hardy said it’s the first step in what could be a transformation, for the entire county fleet, including cruisers for the sheriff’s department.
“We want to give this a fair opportunity, as a pilot program, to see how it works,” said Hardy. “If it works out very well, I can see over time a vast majority, of our vehicles, being transitioned, into this type of fuel source.”
The county currently only has one fueling station for the natural gas vehicles. That’s on the West Side of Charleston. Hardy believes there could be three or four more, in a just a couple of years.
As for the cost, the county shelled out $50,000 in seed money to convert the vehicles. Natural gas is relatively cheap at $2.06, compared to a gallon of gas that’s currently priced at $3.51 a gallon.
“Natural gas is a West Virginia product, unlike oil, which isn’t. We’re very, very excited to draw down something from West Virginia and use it right here in West Virginia,” explained Hardy.
The Tahoe was converted into a CNG vehicle by a company in Jackson County. Hardy said that’s putting money right back into the community.
Hardy hopes that by the county going green, it will inspire others to do the same.
“These types of vehicles are practical and will work and will be a good value for the tax payers as well,” he said.
The county’s alternative fuel efforts are part of a program introduced in 2012 called “Kanawha Converts.”