The City of Houston is once again getting national attention for its innovative green energy efforts. The New York Times today highlighted Mayor Bill White's "Power of the Plug-in" program, which will convert 10 city-owned Toyota Prius cars to plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and install 15 vehicle charging stations around the metropolitan area to power them.

Bill said in a news release:

"We're committed to making Houston the nation's green energy capital. That commitment begins at City Hall and these clean-running electric cars and the charging stations that will be available to all Houstonians will get us farther down that road."

Previously, the City of Houston received national recognition for its program to switch the City's civilian fleet to hybrids. So far, the fleet is 550 strong. During Bill's tenure as mayor, he has built on Houston's reputation as the world's energy capital and set it on its way to becoming the global renewable energy capital as well. To read more about Bill's proposals on a secure, affordable and sustainable energy future, click here.

Update: Houston Chronicle also highlighted the program:

Houston Mayor Bill White said the project is a first step toward a future where electric vehicles are the norm.

"It won't happen in a day, it won't be coerced and it won't be mandated, but this I will predict: In the next decade one of the biggest changes you'll see in energy use in this country will be the adoption of plug-in hybrid vehicles," White said.