RICHMOND, Va., July 13 (UPI) -- Vehicles used for official purposes in the state of Virginia are required to move to alternative fuels by January, the state's governor announced.

"Increased use of alternative fuel vehicles holds the potential to help reduce our dependence on foreign oil, support the expansion of private-sector businesses and create new jobs here in the commonwealth," Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell said in a statement.


McDonnell said that while alternative fuel vehicles are available, the infrastructure to support refueling is limited. To support the expansion, he said, he was ordering state vehicles be switched to alternative fuels by Jan. 1.

Virginia's Office of Fleet Management Services oversees about 4,000 vehicles.

The U.S. General Services Administration in May said it was purchasing more than 100 electric vehicles for its pilot program in reaction to a memorandum from U.S. President Barack Obama.

Obama called on federal agencies to increase the number of alternative-fuel vehicles in the federal fleet by 2015.