NEWARK, DE – The City of Newark, Del., added three Toyota Camry sedan hybrids to its fleet to reduce air pollution and “combat rising fuel costs.”

The City purchased the vehicles as part of a regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) grant program, which is administered by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) Division of Energy and Climate. The grant helped cover the additional cost of each hybrid vehicle compared to the cost of a new standard model, with Newark funding the balance.

According to the City, the hybrid sedans will replace vehicles used by staff in the City’s Parks and Recreation and Electric departments that were scheduled for replacement this year.    

The City also plans to use a second RGGI grant to the Newark Conservation Advisory Commission for an anti-idling educational campaign that’s designed to reduce air emissions. The outreach campaign will support an existing City law that prohibits unnecessary idling of cars.