WASHINGTON – The U.S. General Services Administration’s top official today picked up the keys to one of 55 Saturn Aura Green Line hybrid sedans GSA has purchased for the federal fleet.

“GSA has bought the 2007 Saturn hybrid sedans, as part of our effort to provide a selection of the latest model hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles to the federal community,” said Administrator Lurita Doan, who accepted the keys from Saturn General Manager Jill Lajdziak [cq] outside the Mellon Auditorium, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW.

“GSA is committed to providing the best fleet services in the business at the lowest possible cost, a formula that will yield major dividends for our customers, our citizens and our environment,” Doan said.

The GSA fleet will lease 43 of the new Saturn hybrids to the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps and Navy; Transportation, Interior, Energy and Commerce departments, the Environmental Protection Agency and National Space and Aeronautics Administration. The remaining 12 will remain in the GSA fleet, for agency use and to demonstrate to federal customers.

In addition to purchasing these Saturn hybrid electric vehicles, GSA also has purchased more than 24,000 alternative fueled vehicles (AFVs) for federal customers this year. In total, GSA has purchased over 140,000 AFVs and hybrids since 1991.

Alternative fuel and hybrid vehicles are among an array of products and services GSA’s Federal Acquisition Service to help federal agencies meet the requirements of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and the 2007 President’s Executive Order 13423. Both directives require the federal community to save energy by buying fuel-efficient vehicles and other energy-efficient products and services.