May 17th, 2012
Jackson State Community College has made a move toward reducing the use of petroleum-based products.
In 2006, the state of Tennessee phased in a challenge to reduce the use of petroleum based products. Jackson State Community Colleges (JSCC) plan and goal was for a 20 percent reduction in consumption of petroleum products by January 1, 2010, using the baseline of fuel used from fiscal year 2006-2007.
The plan includes all motor vehicles owned and licensed by Jackson State Community College and outlines various methods of reducing harmful fuel emissions and increasing environmental factors including fleet reduction, use of alternative vehicles such as hybrid electric cars and exploration of alternative fuel use.
Jackson State Community College was successful in meeting the 20 percent reduction goal in 2010, and as of 2011 has managed a reduction of 26 percent,far exceeding its goal. The means we incorporated to achieve this goal was the purchase of two hybrid vehicles, 1 flex-fuel vehicle, reduction in the number of unleaded fuel driven lawn equipment, and close monitoring of effective use of all vehicles, said Gerald Batchelor, Physical Plant Director for JSCC.
The electric cars were in the plan in fiscal year 2011 to replace the gas-powered work vehicles JSCC currently had. They are environmentally friendly, require less maintenance resulting in less man-hours and zero use of petroleum products. We currently have four, which will be fully commission in the next few weeks for use by technicians, security, and daily maintenance mode of transportation. Jackson State Community Colleges goal for 2012 is to have a total of 28 percent reduction by December 2012, explained Batchelor.