LAS VEGAS --- The city of Las Vegas and Ford Motor Co. have partnered to bring two hydrogen-fueled buses to southern Nevada to serve the public along downtown bus routes. Mayor Oscar B. Goodman, Ward 4 Councilman Larry Brown and Ford representatives today will welcome the buses to the city at the West Service Center. Media will be able to tour the buses and the city's hydrogen fuel station as well as take a ride in these energy-saving vehicles. The vehicles are scheduled to be used as part of the City Ride bus program, and later this summer they will be assigned to express routes to and from the Las Vegas Premium Outlets. The city is leasing the buses for two years, with the cost of the $500,000 lease being reimbursed to the city through a U.S. Department of Energy grant. "These new buses are another example of the city's continuing commitment to using innovative alternative fuels," Mayor Goodman said. "The city will continue to be a leader when it comes to finding new ways to be environmentally friendly through conservation and cutting edge technology." Sen. Harry Reid helped to secure the federal grant allowing the city to lease the energy-saving buses. "These buses will be great for Nevada for two reasons," Reid said. "First, they will encourage people to use public transportation downtown. Second, they rely on clean energy that won't pollute our air. I am proud to see the city of Las Vegas taking even more steps to reduce Nevada's reliance on oil." The buses will be fueled at the city’s hydrogen energy station, which was the first of its kind in the world when it went into operation in 2002. In 2004, the city entered into an agreement to test two FCX Honda hydrogen fuel cell cars, and in 2006 the city won the Innovation Groups' Robert J. Havlick Award for its alternative fuels program. Ninety percent of the city's fleet of vehicles now runs on some type of alternative fuel, including hydrogen, natural gas, biodiesel and reformulated gas. More than 1,100 vehicles and pieces of equipment at the city use alternative fuels.