SAN FRANCISCO – San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom joined environmental leaders to announce a major new package of financial incentives to boost the number of compressed natural gas (CNG) and hybrid taxis serving San Francisco. Natural gas vehicles reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 30 percent and cost much less than gasoline powered vehicles much less than gasoline powered vehicles to operate – directly benefiting both the environment and taxi drivers responsible for the cost of fuel. Hybrid vehicles provide equal benefit, reducing air pollution, fuel consumption, and driver expenses. Incentives will be provided by Clean Energy, of approximately $16,000 per CNG taxi. CAST, an alliance of groups dedicated to reducing urban pollution, asthma, and U.S. dependence on oil by transforming public transportation will provide resources aimed at increasing the number of hybrid taxis.