The city of West Point announced Wednesday they will convert eight 2009 Ford Crown Victoria police cruisers for the use of propane auto gas.
Police Chief Bobby Lane, Mayor Scott Ross and Mark Denton, vice president of business development for Alliance AutoGas were on hand to address a group gathered at the West Point police station. Several of the cars that have undergone the conversion were on display.
“This change is beneficial to our community in a number of ways,” stated Ross. “We are developing a cleaner living environment while creating substantial savings on fuel.”
Propane auto gas is the world”s most widely used alternative fuel. This domestically produced resource is both clean-burning and saves money for public and private vehicle fleets. Auto gas vehicles release significantly fewer harmful greenhouse gas emissions than gasoline-powered vehicles, including 20 percent less carbon monoxide, 40 percent less nitrogen oxide and more than 10 percent less carbon dioxide.
Auto gas is approximately $1 per gallon less expensive than gasoline, and the overall cost of implementation is much less than that of other alternative fuels.
“The savings to the city is projected to be $26,100 per year,” added Ross. “We are pleased that this part of our environmental health initiative is having such an immediate impact.”
West Point is one of three communities to receive a grant from the Mississippi Development Authority”s energy division to convert police cars for the use of alternative fuel. The grant pays for the installation of the new systems as well as the training for mechanics and drivers. Alliance AutoGas is providing the fuel pumps as a part of the city”s agreement to purchase fuel from them.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 37 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.