SANTA ROSA, CA – The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors received the County’s first all-electric vehicle on Tuesday, April 5, a 2011-MY Nissan Leaf. The vehicle was delivered to the County and the Board in front of the Board’s offices in a special ceremony.

The new Leaf is the first electric vehicle the fleet will use as part of the County’s ongoing efforts to be more sustainable. Sonoma County’s access to these vehicles was made possible through a unique partnership with Nissan USA.

The County has been using hybrid vehicle since 2002 and has driven nearly 6 million miles in the hybrid fleet. It now has 231 hybrid sedans and compact SUVs. The fleet drives more than 1.4 million miles and has reduced fuel consumption by more than 20,000 gallons a year.

“Sonoma County is an innovator,” said Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, Efren Carrillo. “It is fitting in the month of Earth Day the County takes this latest bold step and adds another ‘green’ car to our incredibly sustainable vehicle fleet. This acquisition saves money, greatly reduces the use of fossil fuels and shows that consumers have a choice that is good for the environment. The biggest challenge for us will be the line of people wanting to use it now that it has been delivered!”

To service its growing hybrid and all-electric fleet, the County has also installed 15 electric vehicle chargers at the County Center to recharge fleet vehicles and plans another 9 chargers to be installed this fiscal year.

The County of Sonoma is comprised of 26 departments and agencies that provide a full range of services to the community. It encompasses over 1,600 square miles and is home to almost 500,000 residents.