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Project Get Ready: Hillsborough County Embraces Electric Car Initiative
Tuesday, June 01, 2010
The Hillsborough County Commission has unanimously approved a resolution to move forward with a program that encourages the use of electrically powered vehicles.
The commission has elected to take part in Project Get Ready, a national initiative that aids cities in switching from gas-powered to electric vehicles (EVs). According to County Commissioner Rose Ferlita, the regional initiative will be led locally by the Tampa Regional Planning Council.
"Project Get Ready is a great fit for what we have already put in place and continue to expand here in Hillsborough County," says Ferlita. "Our sustainability efforts include focusing on a countywide alternative transportation vehicle plan that includes electric as well as natural gas vehicles.
According to Ferlita, the project's goals include:
attracting original equipment manufacturers to Tampa Bay
educating the public about the positive economic impact and potential growth in green jobs a communitywide switch to EVs may offer
reducing vehicle and total green house gas emissions
increasing use of alternative and/or innovative energy and decreasing dependence on traditional fuel sources
Research indicates that one electric car reduces carbon emissions by approximately 66 percent and costs less than $1 a day to drive. According to the Get Ready website, Tampa Bay is a case study in which challenges such as coordinating utilities will be addressed and hopefully serve as a best practices model for other cities to embrace electrically powered vehicles.
"Transportation is a key component," says Ferlita. "Not only for Hillsborough County but for the entire Tampa Bay region. We're looking at multimodal and I support that. But, we must also look at 'multifuel' opportunities as we move forward."
Writer: Missy Kavanaugh
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY NEWS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
County's Bully Busters Program Wins National Award
May 25, 2010
Hillsborough County Criminal Justice Office is pleased to announce that its Bully Busters initiative has received national recognition from the National Association of County Information Officers.
The program won a Superior for its comprehensive public awareness campaign to bring attention to the problem of bullying; educate the public; encourage reporting bullying behavior; and promote a zero-tolerance attitude toward bullying in Hillsborough County.
Last month, Bully Busters was featured in the National Association of Counties. (NACo) County News newsletter as a national leader in the effort to stem youth bullying. The Bully Busters program and the Anti-Bullying Advisory Committee were both created by Hillsborough County Commissioner Rose Ferlita last August after news broke of an alleged sexual assault at Walker Middle School.
Bully Busters is completely funded with grants and donations, including $50,000 provided by the Sheriff's Office. Bully Busters is a joint effort with the County, the County's Criminal Justice Liaison, Children's Services, the Sheriff's Office, and Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay to battle bullying in Hillsborough County.
The awards will be formally presented during the National Association of County Information Officers conference in July.
For more information, contact Carol Michel, Community Relations Coordinator, at (813) 276-2033.
Hillsborough County Takes A Step Toward The Tampa Bay Region Plugging Into Electric Vehicles
May 20, 2010
At the Hillsborough County Board of Commissioners regular meeting yesterday (May 19), the Board unanimously approved a resolution supporting the first steps toward region-wide electrical vehicle usage. The measure was brought forward by the County's Energy Management & Sustainability Workgroup, created by Hillsborough County Commissioner Rose Ferlita.
The resolution passed yesterday supports Project Get Ready, the work of the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council, which is studying a regional approach to bringing the changes necessary for electrical vehicles. Each electric car brings about a 66 percent reduction in carbon emissions, while providing daily travel for less than $1 a day.
Project Get Ready was brought to the County's Energy Management & Sustainability Workgroup several weeks ago, where it received full support leading to yesterday's action.
"I am thrilled to continue the momentum, to get regional talk under way, and to bring our government and private sectors together to discuss the future of electrical vehicles, said Commissioner Rose Ferlita. "Planning needs to be done today to accommodate the public's desire for these vehicles, attractive both for their cost savings and less pollution."
The Hillsborough County Energy Management & Sustainability Workgroup, under the leadership of Commissioner Rose Ferlita, is in the process of creating a regional task force to look at issues like all alternatively fueled vehicles...a regional task force looking at regional issues with a regional focus from the Hillsborough County Energy Group.
The Energy Management & Sustainability Workgroup's focus has also led to the first regional energy forum in January and the soon-to-be-under way Climate Action Plan. A second energy forum is being planned for this fall.
For more information, contact Della Cury or Sandy Ottino, Aides to Commissioner Rose Ferlita, ( 813 ) 272-5470
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY'S BULLY BUSTERS IS HIGHLIGHTED AS A NATIONAL LEADER
The Hillsborough County program, Bully Busters, is featured in the current edition of the National Association of Counties. (NACo) County News newsletter as a national leader in the effort to stem youth bullying. The Bully Busters program and the Anti-Bullying Advisory Committee were both created by Hillsborough County Commissioner Rose Ferlita last August after news broke of an alleged sexual assault at Walker Middle School.
The article is also published on NACo's website http://www.naco.org/PrinterTemplate.cfm?Section=Publications&template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=33594 and details the partnership needed to bring about the program and how it is working today to reach young people with the message that bullying others isn't cool.
Bully Busters is completely funded with grants and donations, including $50,000 provided by the Sheriff's Office. Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay is a partner in the program and provides youth with a tip line. They can call 1-800-873-TIPS or text CSTB + message to CRIMES (274637).
"While it is gratifying that our program is in the national spotlight, we continue to focus on public awareness here in our county. It is so important for young people to know they are not alone, that they can report bullying and that they can get help," said Commissioner Ferlita. "That said, I am pleased to hear that more counties across the country are working to end this behavior."
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