The City of Pittsburgh will buy the most environmentally friendly vehicles it can, using federal Environmental Protection Agency guidelines to make its choices, Mayor Luke Ravenstahl's administration announced today.

The announcement follows a Thursday vote by the city's Equipment Leasing Authority, which handles all vehicle purchases, and an April city council vote urging the policy.

"This green policy will reduce our carbon footprint while saving taxpayer dollars and reducing our dependency on foreign oil," Mr. Ravenstahl said in a press release. The city has begun using biodiesel fuel to run its trash packers, and recently bought two hybrid Ford Escapes.

The city has around 1,000 vehicles and is buying 151 new cars and trucks this year.