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Verizon Doubles Hybrid Sedan Fleet to Further Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions


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Adding 100 Hybrid Sedans in Metropolitan Areas in Seven States and Washington, D.C., Is Expected to Conserve More Than 16,000 Gallons of Fuel Annually

NEW YORK - Verizon will add another 100 hybrid sedans to its motor vehicle fleet in metropolitan areas across seven states and Washington D.C., conserving thousands of gallons of gas and helping to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases.

Verizon began replacing gasoline-powered sedans with hybrids at the end of 2007 by introducing 100 of them to its fleet. By doubling to 200 the number of hybrids, Verizon expects to conserve an additional 16,000 gallons of fuel and cut greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 1.4 metric tons per vehicle annually.

Verizon’s new Toyota Prius hybrid sedans, compared with most traditional sedans, can travel nearly double the miles per gallon and emit less than half of the carbon. This supports the company’s goal of continuing to reduce CO2 emissions. The hybrids will be used in California, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington, D.C.

In addition to the hybrid sedans, the company has been using 13 specially designed hybrid service-vans in Maryland and Texas since 2007. A company that specializes in hybrid-power systems retrofitted the new vehicles to Verizon’s specifications since no domestic motor vehicle manufacturer currently makes vans powered by gasoline-electric engines.

“We are committed to operating an efficient business by continually working to implement practical and innovative solutions that minimize the environmental impact of our operations,” said Dan Mead, president of Verizon Services Corp., which manages Verizon’s fleet, buildings and various financial operations such as collections and printing bills. “Using more hybrid vehicles, promoting paperless billing, and raising awareness of the environmental benefits of broadband technology are just some of the ways Verizon is increasing operational efficiency while decreasing its impact on our environment.”

In 2007, Verizon powered down or removed obsolete equipment from more than 400 buildings, and collected 1.1 million cellular phones for refurbishing, donation and recycling. So far in 2008, Verizon has electronically delivered about 75 million bills to customers.

Over the last five years, Verizon’s energy-conservation, waste-prevention and recycling efforts have yielded an estimated average reduction of 332,295 metric tons in greenhouse-gas emissions. That’s equivalent to nearly 61,000 cars not driven for one year.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), headquartered in New York, is a leader in delivering broadband and other wireline and wireless communication innovations to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America’s most reliable wireless network, serving nearly 71 million customers nationwide. Verizon’s Wireline operations include Verizon Business, which delivers innovative and seamless business solutions to customers around the world, and Verizon Telecom, which brings customers the benefits of converged communications, information and entertainment services over the nation’s most advanced fiber-optic network. A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of more than 228,000 and last year generated consolidated operating revenues of $93.5 billion. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.



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