POUGHKEEPSIE, NY – Dutchess County Executive William Steinhaus’ administration has no plans to include alternative-fuel vehicles among 60 new replacement cars and trucks it plans to purchase, according to the Poughkeepsie Journal. Some are baffled by the administration’s decision, following Steinhaus previously pointing out the benefits of such vehicles in his own state of the county address in January.

The Dutchess County legislature recently approved borrowing $1.6 million to buy the cars and trucks. It also approved a separate measure, by a vote of 21-3, calling for the purchase to include five gas-electric hybrids and 11 other vehicles capable of running on a fuel blend consisting of 85 percent ethanol.

The county already has purchased three hybrid vehicles with money approved last year by the legislature and a fourth has been ordered. The county is working with a consultant to study how to increase the energy efficiency of the county’s fleet of more than 300 passenger vehicles.