by Public Information
comments open December 11 to December 30

Jefferson County’s new hybrid snowplow, believed to be the first in the nation, may be plowing its way down unincorporated county roads as soon as next week, following the County Commissioners’ unveiling this morning in front of the Jeffco Administration and Courts Building.

Some companies have used the 2009 International Model 7300 Hybrid as a delivery truck, but Jefferson County is the first to have outfitted the hybrid truck as a snowplow. The truck has been shown to reduce hydrocarbon emissions by as much as 65 percent.

Jefferson County will learn more about the truck’s energy efficiency as a snowplow as it begins to use it this winter. If the $162,240 hybrid snowplow performs well, the county may decide to add more to its fleet of 130 snowplows and 12 hybrid vehicles. It will join a fleet of 82 Road & Bridge plows and graders that deploy countywide during a snowstorm.

To find out more about the plow and the County County Commissioners’ Renewable Energy Initiative, read the full release.

You can also check out the Energy Efficiency category of blog postings.