Oakland Tribune.The Board of Supervisors of California’s Contra Costa County plans to scrap the county’s use of SUVs. The county would permit some exceptions, based on demonstration of need (sheriff, fire department, etc.).

Contra Costa County is on the East side of San Francisco Bay, just north of Oakland, and is a heavy commuting corridor.

In recent years Contra Costa has purchased several dozen hybrids [36 Priuses, 8 Hondas], which run on a combination of gasoline and electricity, for its fleet, according to Bart Gilbert, director of the county’s general services department.

“Public agencies need to set the example in these matters because everybody always points to what public agencies do,&rdquo Gilbert said.

Fleets are good points of leverage.