Environmental Leader

San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors has followed New York City’s lead by initially approving an ordinance that will require taxi cab companies to run fleets with greenhouse gas emissions at least 20 percent lower than 1990 levels, The San Francisco Chronicle reports. To help cab companies pay for it, the Board increased the daily fee that drivers pay by $12.50.

“The Board of Supervisors pretend to fight global warming by granting a raise to the cab companies – and forcing the drivers to pay for it,” said Bud Hazelkorn, a driver and member of the United Taxi Workers. “Gas prices are headed for $4 and more per gallon.”

The Board says drivers will be better off, according to the story. “If you drive a Crown Victoria, which gets 10 mpg, and figure gas at $3.48 a gallon, it costs $40 a shift,” said Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier. “But a Ford Escape Hybrid gets 25.6 mpg and would cost $15 a shift. Even with the $12.50 increase, that’s a gain of almost $13 a shift.”