Abstract:

In 2007 Durham adopted a joint City-County Greenhouse Gas and Criteria Air Pollutant Action Plan. This Action Plan called for a reduction of government emissions by 50% and community emissions by 30% from 2005 levels by 2030. Since the transportation sector is one of the largest sources of emissions overall, the Action Plan clarified the need for Durham to (1) create strategies for reducing government emissions and (2) provide leadership and support to the community to use alternative fuel vehicles. To help achieve these goals, both the City and County governments adopted an Electric Vehicle and Charging Station Plan in 2011 and launched a pilot project to evaluate all-electric LDVs, purchasing four Nissan LEAFs in March of 2012 for city departments (Neighborhood Improvement Services, Community Development, Inspections, and Planning) and two LEAFs in September of 2012 for use by county departments (Tax and Engineering & Environmental Services).