SYCAMORE, Ill. (AP) — The DeKalb County Sheriff's Office says it's saving money by switching to propane-powered squad cars.

Sheriff Roger Scott announced the alternative fuel pilot program on Monday, and says six converted Chevrolet Tahoe SUVs have been running on propane since Thanksgiving week. The vehicles can burn either propane or regular gasoline.

Scott says each converted squad car will save about $2,000 a year in fuel costs.

He says propane also burns cleaner than gas. That means the cars emit less pollution and do not get heavy carbon buildup in the engines, potentially reducing maintenance costs and extending the vehicles' lives.

The sheriff's office was able to offset the cost of conversion through an Illinois EPA rebate and will apply for U.S. Department of Energy rebates to offset fuel costs.

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