Village earns Green Fleet award for 7th straight year

The Village of Downers Grove has again been selected as one of the Top 50 Greenest Fleets in North America.

The Village was awarded the Government Green Fleet Award for their dedicated use of alternative fuel and hybrid vehicles.

In 2018, 83% of the Village's fleet utilized some form of alternative fuel. These alternatives included Biodiesel (B-20), E-85 (Ethanol), Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), propane, solar power, and hybrid combinations.

The Village uses CNG fuel to power a wide range of vehicles including compact sedans, pick-up trucks, cargo vans, police patrol vehicles and five-ton trucks.

The Village's five-ton trucks were the first in the Midwest to be powered by CNG.

The implementation of green initiatives like the use of cleaner, more efficient alternative fuels achieves the Village's Strategic Plan goal of being a Steward of Financial & Environmental Sustainability.

Using alternative fuels reduces the environmental impact of fleet operations and is more cost-effective than traditional petroleum based products.

Being selected as an award winning Government Green Fleet is a great accomplishment for the Village.

The Village recently began use of its first plug-in electric hybrid vehicles. The vehicles, used by the Police Department's Community Support Officers, are averaging over 75 miles-per-gallon after one month of use.