SAN FRANCISCO – Mayor Gavin Newsom has signed legislation that will enable the purchase of more alternative-fuel taxi cabs for use on San Francisco streets.

The legislation will help the City meet its commitment to reducing green house gas emissions with a higher gate fee, which will allow taxi cab companies to purchase new alternative fuel vehicles and supply them to drivers. Taxi drivers also benefit with lower gas costs associated with more efficient vehicles that get better gas mileage, or use less expensive alternative fuels, according to California Chronicle.

Mayor Newsom´s 2006 State of the City Address challenged the Taxi Commission to create a 100 percent “green” taxi fleet. Approximately 15 percent of today’s fleet is either Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) or hybrid vehicles. This legislation is expected to increase that percentage to 100 percent by 2011.

The Board of Supervisors also requires taxi companies to reduce average per vehicle greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent by 2012.