The Fredericksburg, Va., Police Department (FPD) has partnered with Virginia Clean Cities (VCC) for guidance on alternative fuel vehicles.

The intent is that this effort, as a pilot project on a part of the city’s fleet, will be a model for the remainder of the city’s fleet over time. The FPD consists of 39 patrol vehicles and 22 administrative vehicles.

Working with VCC places the FPD on a path toward converting their fleet to cleaner vehicles. The goal is to reduce petroleum consumption and emissions, advance air quality, and reduce expenditures for petroleum fuel, all while promoting a cleaner environment for Fredericksburg’s residents and visitors.

Electrify Virginia is a Virginia Clean Cities project launched in 2019 that provides direct no-cost help to municipalities for planning and is supported by a grant to help plan for electric vehicles in Virginia in the heavy duty sector. VCC also provides planning assistance for all fuels through other programs.

This new partnership is a big first step for bringing the city’s police fleet of vehicles into this important green planning for Fredericksburg. The city council adopted the 100% Renewable Energy Resolution in December 2019 and committed to the goal of powering municipal operations with 100% renewable energy by 2035 or earlier.

Additional conversations are being held with Fredericksburg City Schools on the potential for a joint pursuit of solar energy for public buildings. The city and community of Fredericksburg have already demonstrated leadership on environmental and climate issues through the activities and programs of the Clean and Green Commission; adopting a C-PACE ordinance to help local businesses finance energy efficiency; participating in the George Washington Planning Region’s Climate, Environment and Readiness (CLEAR) Plan; partnering with Tree Fredericksburg to enhance and manage the city’s urban forest, which include a unique zero waste tree program; increasing attention and implementation to storm water issues and mitigations through planning and development reviews, field surveys and general education; engaging in instituting energy efficiency measures and conducting additional assessments for over a decade in city structures; developing additional markets for true reuse of recyclables, such as glass and construction debris; and by protecting important riparian buffer zones along the Rappahannock River.