National Press Release

New Vehicles, Part of 100 More Hybrid Sedans Being Added Across Seven States and Washington, D.C., Help Verizon Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Save Fuel

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif., Nov. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon is rolling out 16 additional hybrid sedans to help conserve fuel and reduce the emission of greenhouse gases in Southern California.

The new vehicles are among the 100 hybrid sedans Verizon is adding to its motor vehicle fleet in seven states and Washington, D.C., replacing gasoline-powered sedans. The new hybrid sedans are in addition to 100 hybrids, including 10 in California, that the company began adding to its fleet at the end of 2007. By doubling the number of hybrids to 200, Verizon expects to conserve an additional 16,000 gallons of fuel and cut greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 1.4 metric tons per vehicle annually.

Verizon's new Toyota Prius hybrid sedans, compared with most conventionally powered sedans, can travel nearly twice the miles per gallon and emit less than half of the carbon. This supports the company's goal of continuing to reduce CO2 emissions.

"Minimizing the impact of our operations by conserving energy, increasing our recycling rates and finding practical as well as innovative solutions to environmental challenges are a part of how we operate our business," said Tim McCallion, Verizon's West region president. "As a broadband company, Verizon makes it possible for e-commerce to flourish and for our customers to telecommute or engage in distance learning; so we understand the important role technology must play in reducing the environmental impact of our operations."

In addition to the hybrid sedans, the company has been using 13 specially designed hybrid service-vans in Maryland and Texas since 2007. A company that specializes in hybrid-power systems retrofitted the new vehicles to Verizon's specifications since no domestic motor vehicle manufacturer currently makes vans powered by gasoline-electric engines.

In 2007, Verizon also powered down or removed obsolete equipment from more than 400 buildings, and collected 1.1 million cellular phones for refurbishing, donation and recycling. So far in 2008, Verizon has electronically delivered about 75 million bills to customers.

Over the last five years, Verizon's energy conservation, waste prevention and recycling efforts have yielded an estimated average reduction of 332,295 metric tons in greenhouse-gas emissions. That's equivalent to nearly 61,000 cars not driven for one year.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ), headquartered in New York, is a leader in delivering broadband and other wireline and wireless communication innovations to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving nearly 71 million customers nationwide. Verizon's Wireline operations include Verizon Business, which delivers innovative and seamless business solutions to customers around the world, and Verizon Telecom, which brings customers the benefits of converged communications, information and entertainment services over the nation's most advanced fiber-optic network. A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of more than 228,000 and last year generated consolidated operating revenues of $93.5 billion. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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SOURCE Verizon