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Updated: July 12, 2009, 11:14 am |
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The town of Southampton will be leasing five electric MINI Coopers this summer as part of its green initiative. Photos by Kelly Carroll |
Southampton - Southampton Town is going "green" once again. In partnership with MINI of the Hamptons, the Town is now able to lease the all new electric MINI Cooper, an initiative that looks toward "downsizing" vehicle use within the municipality and fostering a move from the oversized SUV's currently operated by town employees to the smaller, more environmentally friendly vehicle.
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"Let's get on board with what these cars can do," Councilwoman Anna Throne-Holst said. |
Throne-Holst, long a proponent of sustainability, was contacted earlier this year to see if she would be interested in participating in an initiative set up to get town employees on board with using the electric vehicle. Last year, Throne-Holst spearheaded the town's campaign to create and implement "green" building codes, and is also liaison to the town's Sustainable Southampton Committee.
The electric MINI Cooper was introduced in October, with a limited release this year. Getting a chance to use the vehicle before almost anyone, the town of Southampton will be able to lease five electric MINIs for $10 a month per vehicle for one year. At the information session, Throne-Holst said that those willing to participate in the lease will be able to use the vehicles for their everyday job-related activities. With only five MINIs however, the departments will have to find a way to share with each other, as well as a way to monitor how the vehicle is or is not meeting their needs.
"The whole idea of this is participating on tracking it," the councilwoman told the department heads. "We want to look at it comprehensively."
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Town Engineer George Mootoo goes for a test drive. |
John Valente, from the Town Accessor's Office, said using the MINI would not only be friendlier for the environment, but would cut down on expenses in his department.
"We would be reducing our carbon foot print and costs," he said.
After the information session, department heads were given the chance to test drive the MINI, and a few were biting at the bit to get in. Added Throne-Holst, having driven to the meeting in one of the MINIs, "They're really fun to drive. They're cute."
Comments
dan
from southampton says:
How can you turn reducing pollution, not
buying gas, and saving the town money into a
bad thing?
jim
from southampton says:
Typical idiots. Missing millions and they are
worried about global warming. NEWS ALERT We
just had 4th coolest June in history.
mini pooper
from southampton says:
these cars are junk rated highest in break
downs of all the cars on the road. at least
they are leasing them so they do not own to
costly to repair,and they would be in the shop
more than being used.
Submit Your Comment
bailey from Southampton says:
Instead of spending more money on things that are not necessary, why aren't these employees using their own vehicles to get to work. Imagine the money that the town would save on vehicles, maintenance, gas, insurance, registrations etc. I don't understand why it is necessary for so many town employees to have cars to go back and forth to work, especially when most of these employees are not local. What a saving it would be.