Twp. 'going green' with purchase of 12 hybrids
Hybrid Ford Escapes expected to double fuel efficiency of nonhybrids
BY KATHY CHANG
Staff Writer

PHOTOSBY SCOTT PILLING Staff Chantal Greffer, chair of the 2007 Woodbridge Environmental Commission, talks about the plan they will implement to make the township a cleaner, more environmentally friendly place. In that spirit, the township purchased 12 hybrid cars for municipal use.

WOODBRIDGE - With the recent purchase of 12 hybrid vehicles, the township hopes other municipalities will follow their lead and go green.

"Woodbridge is leading the way in environmental initiatives with the purchase of 12 hybrid vehicles to supplement the township fleet, and through the work of the Woodbridge Environmental Commission to oversee the effort to identify and map the township's vital environmental areas," said Mayor John E. McCormac.

McCormac, along with nine members of the Environmental Commission, held a press conference on Feb. 28 to announce their purchase of the 12 hybrid 2007 Ford Escape vehicles, which are planned to arrive in April, to supplement the township's fleet.

"The code enforcement officials [who include housing, plumbing, engineering and more] were the next in line to get a fleet of cars," said McCormac. "They come into the office at 9 a.m. and get their assignments and they're out on the road until 3 p.m."

Mary Beth Koza, a member of the Woodbridge Environmental Commission, discusses the commission's plan for a cleaner Woodbridge. Part of that plan included purchasing a dozen hybrid vehicles.

The 2007 Ford Escape hybrids cost $25,576 each and are estimated by the manufacturer to get over 36 miles per gallon.

"Included as part of the purchase and potential cost-savings are state and county rebates totaling $48,000 for the 12 vehicles - $4,000 per vehicle," said McCormac. "Additionally, the township has applied to be part of the New Jersey Bio-Diesel Fuel Rebate Program."

In 2006, under Mayor Frank G. Pelzman's administration, the township purchased a 2006 Ford Escape hybrid vehicle as part of a five-month test program to compare the performance and economy of a hybrid vehicle and a standard gasoline-powered SUV.

"The tests resulted in the vehicle clocking 3,455 miles using 132 gallons of fuel with an average of 26 miles per gallon," said McCormac. "The nonhybrid 2006 Ford 4X4 Explorer logged 2,853 miles using 229 gallons of fuel for an average of 12 miles per gallon. If [the commission] just came to me and asked me to purchase 12 hybrid vehicles, I would have said no, but with the testing and these numbers have showed me why we should purchase the hybrids."

In addition to the purchase of the 12 hybrids, the mayor announced that the township Environmental Resource Inventory mapping project is nearing completion. The project, which has two phases, was undertaken with the assistance of a $7,500 Smart Growth grant received from the Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions (ANJEC) in October 2006 through then interim Mayor and state Sen. Joseph Vitale [D-19].

The project is in the process of identifying, charting and mapping township environmental resources including wetland areas [forested and emergent], forest areas, flood plains, groundwater recharge aquifers, soil type, and species habitat areas.

"The Environmental Resource Inventory project will clearly identify environmentally sensitive areas throughout the township and will serve as a guidepost as we plan for future revitalization and smart growth of township areas," said McCormac. "Additionally, other green initiatives under review by the Woodbridge Environmental Commission include possible environmentally preferable management and purchasing programs and other environmentally friendly green community programs."

The inventory will be an important tool for the environmental commission and the Planning and Zoning boards to help develop resource protection ordinances and land use planning.

Chantal Greffer, chairwoman of the Environmental Commission, said the commission is grateful to both ANJEC and the township for the opportunity to create the Environmental Resource Inventory (ERI), and also that the township is moving in the right direction by purchasing the 12 hybrid vehicles.

"This document will be completed through the cooperative efforts of environmental consultants from Heyer, Gruel, and Associates [New Brunswick planning firm] and township employees," said Greffer. Once approved as a component of the township's master plan, the ERI will remove any guess work as to the location of our most valued resources and will contain maps of items such as the location of wetlands, forested areas, aquifers, species habitat, soil type and photos of scenic areas and historic landmarks."