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Off-Road Vehicle Fleet Experiences
Cranmore Mountain Resort Uses B20
Last Updated: May 30, 2008
Cranmore Mountain Resort in North Conway, New Hampshire, has been recognized by the National Biodiesel Board for proving the viability of biodiesel in winter conditions through its use of B20 to operate four snow groomers since 2003. The resort uses more than 20,000 gallons of B20 (20% biodiesel, 80% diesel) each year, which results in a 4,000-gallon reduction in the use of conventional diesel. The resort also invested in a 4,000-gallon above-ground, non-heated biodiesel storage tank with collaborative help from the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services and the Granite State Clean Cities Coalition.
According to Director of Operations Jim Mersereau, Cranmore's use of biodiesel has resulted in a significant improvement in air quality because it burns cleaner than conventional diesel. "This is especially true when the machines are being worked on in the repair shop," says Mersereau. Employees have also found that not only is biodiesel better for the environment but it is convenient to use. "We have never had any problems with the biodiesel fuel in the cold, and we didn't have to make any modifications to our machines in order to use it," Mersereau says.
For additional information on Cranmore Mountain Resort, visit the Web site at http://www.cranmore.com or contact Jim Mersereau at jmersereau.mc@boothcreek.com.
Portland Water Bureau Leads the Way with B99
Last Updated: December 19, 2007
Oregon's Portland Water Bureau (PWB) is committed to using the highest blend of biodiesel available. Since 2006, it has been using B99 (99% biodiesel, 1% diesel) in its city-owned, diesel-powered vehicles and equipment from spring through fall and B50 (50% biodiesel, 50% diesel) in the winter.
PWB's switch to B99 is the latest in a string of initiatives aimed at building alternative fuel infrastructure in the region and state. "We're doing our part to increase biodiesel demand and help spur the development of Oregon-based production facilities, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and decrease reliance on foreign oil," says Portland City Commissioner Randy Leonard. A long-time biodiesel advocate and an instrumental leader in the bureau's switch to biodiesel, Leonard promotes B99 as a cleaner-burning renewable fuel and an opportunity to boost the local economy.
To that end, the biodiesel used by PWB is locally produced. The city's partners in the effort--Oregon-based Star Oil and SeQuential Pacific Biofuels--blend and distribute the fuel, while regional farmers (from Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Montana) grow the seed crops that eventually become the feedstock for B99. PWB and its project partners are stakeholders in the local Columbia Willamette Clean Cities coalition.
With PWB's approximately 144 vehicles--ranging from backhoes and forklifts to dump trucks and tractors--running on B99, the emissions benefits are adding up. During the first quarter of 2007, the fleet offset:
- 1.5 million pounds of carbon dioxide.
- 1,800 pounds of carbon monoxide.
- 519 pounds of sulfur oxides.
- 170 pounds of particulate matter.
- 126 pounds of hydrocarbons.
Contact: Rick Wallace, Columbia Willamette Clean Cities coordinator, 503-378-3265.
Los Angeles Clean Fueling Station Supplies LNG and CNG
Last Updated: December 18, 2007
On August 30, 2007 a new combined liquefied natural gas (LNG) and fast-fill compressed natural gas (L/CNG) clean fueling facility opened in South Los Angeles. LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was on hand to explain how the station will help serve the City's growing fleet of alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs), which now includes 307 LNG solid refuse collection trucks, 54 CNG street sweepers, and various other city-owned AFVs. Los Angeles has the largest municipally-owned alternative fuel solid refuse collection fleet in the U.S. The South LA Fueling Station has a storage capacity of 45,000 gallons of LNG, and is the third in a series of similar stations. The first two stations were constructed in the West San Fernando Valley (45,000 gal.) and East Valley (60,000 gal.). All 3 stations were partially funded using $450,000 in Clean Cities U.S. Department of Energy grant awards received through the California Energy Commission. A fourth station is operating in the Harbor area, at a 6,000-gallon capacity.
The project took over 18 months to build. The station was then put into demonstration/testing mode for 8 months prior to the grand opening. The greatest challenge during the project was the site preparation and cleanup required prior to construction. Some 27,000 tons of contaminated soil were removed and cleaned up over a period of three months at a cost of $330,000.
A total of over $15 million in grants have been secured by the Environmental Affairs Department to help the City's solid resources collection fleet grow in size, and over 4 million gallons of diesel have been displaced since 2000, when the City started using LNG and L/CNG in its alternative fuel in its solid resources collection fleet.
For more information view the PDF about the South Los Angeles Clean Fuel Fleet Project. PDF 586 KB
Hoover Municipal Government Runs on Alternative Fuels
Last Updated: September 24, 2007
With a population of around 65,000, Hoover, Alabama, is the sixth largest city in the state. The City of Hoover currently operates 179 flex-fuel vehicles as well as 21 other light-duty vehicles, 60 medium- and heavy-duty trucks, two buses, two shuttles, and 96 off-road vehicles on B20, a blend of 20% biodiesel and 80% petroleum diesel. The city currently boasts that 80% of the fuel used by its fleet is alternative fuel.
Hoover's police force operates 130 of the flex-fuel vehicles, which are fueled 100% of the time on E85. The remaining 49 flex-fuel vehicles are used by the city's administative personnel. Hoover has also started a test program to use B20 in its fire trucks and plans to forward the results to the National Fire Protection Association.
Hoover may also be the first municipal government in the U.S. to manufacture its own B100 using waste vegetable oil collected from local restaurants. The city also plans to start home collection of waste vegetable oil by providing gallon jugs to homeowners who want to participate.
"The price of the alternative fuels is below the price of petroleum fuel. With our own B100 production, we might even turn a profit," says David Lindon, fleet management director for the City of Hoover. "The mayor and the city council are committed to clean fuel. It's the right thing to do for our energy security and it's cost effective."
For more information about the alternative fuel program in Hoover, Alabama, contact David Lindon, Fleet Management Director, City of Hoover.
Eastman Chemical Switches to B20 Plantwide
Last Updated: September 21, 2007
In 2005, after only one month of testing B5 biodiesel fuel in its diesel fleet, Eastman Chemical Company moved all of its diesel vehicles to B20, a blend of 20% biodiesel and 80% petroleum diesel fuel. Now, two years later, the entire fleet has transitioned to B30. The diesel fleet, located at the Kingsport, Tennessee facility, numbers about 200 pieces and includes tractor trailers, cranes, medium-duty trucks, bulldozers, dump trucks, backhoes, and farm tractors. Eastman also has more than 150 pieces of diesel-powered stationary equipment, such as welders, air compressors, generators, and water pumps that are fueled with biodiesel.
The decision to move from B5 to B20 and then from B20 to B30 was based on positive comments from drivers about equipment performance and decreased odor and smoke. Darren Curtis, a staff engineer with Eastman's transportation department, says the company switched to biodiesel because it was an excellent opportunity to do something beneficial for the community and the environment at the same time. "It's not often that something this simple and easy comes along that can have a potentially major impact on the environment and the community."
In mid-2007 Eastman took B20 to a new level using it to fuel its onsite locomotives that are used for in-plant switching operations. According to Curtis, the move has been a smooth one. "We moved the rail system first to B10 and then a month later went to B20. We don't anticipate any unexpected problems based on three things: our previous experience with biodiesel blends, our experience thus far with B10 in the locomotives, and Genesee & Wyoming's (GWI) testing of biodiesel." GWI own the locomotives and perform the in-plant switching, and Eastman provides the fuel. Curtis credits GWI with extensive testing using biodiesel blends.
The switch has triggered a lot of interest in the Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia areas, according to Curtis. The general hope is that other large users of diesel fuel will follow Eastman's lead. "Eastman alone can make a small contribution, but it's going to take everyone working together to make the kind of impact we'd like to see," he says.
For more information, contact Betty Payne at Eastman Chemical.
Airport Shuttles Go All Natural in Portland, Oregon
Last Updated: September 21, 2007
The Portland International Airport (PDX) in Oregon uses several alternative fuels, including compressed natural gas (CNG); E85 (85% ethanol, 15% gasoline); propane (LPG); B20 biodiesel (20% biodiesel and 80% conventional diesel); and hybrid electric vehicles, in its fleet. PDX began replacing conventional petroleum diesel buses with CNG-fueled buses in 1997 and currently has 26 shuttle buses, three heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs), three off-road vehicles, and 18 light-duty vehicles (LDVs) that are fueled with CNG. PDX also has five off-road vehicles (OHVs) that are fueled with propane (LPG), two flexible-fuel vehicles fueled with E85, and six hybrid LDVs. PDX has fueled its diesel vehicles with B20 since 2002 and currently operates 18 HDVs, 35 OHVs, and three sweeper vehicles on B20.
PDX installed fueling infrastructure to meet all its alternative fuel needs. The airport currently has CNG, LPG, E85, and B20 fueling stations on property, but cannot sell fuel to other fleets or the public because of access limitations. Larry Medearis, aviation senior manager, Maintenance & Facility Services, points to lower emissions, better relations with the environmental community, and longer operational life, which means more miles between rebuilds, as advantages to the alternative fuel fleet. Last year PDX consumed 276,500 gasoline gallon equivalents of CNG to fuel its fleet of 50 CNG vehicles.
PDX is studying the option to start replacing its CNG shuttle buses with new hybrid diesel-electric buses, and plans to continue using its other current AFVs. For more information, visit the PDX Web site.
Redwood National and State Parks
Last Updated: August 22, 2007
Located near Eureka, California, the Redwood National and State Parks are currently using a variety of alternative fuels in its fleet. They are using biodiesel (B20) to operate 32 heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) used for park maintenance. The park also uses five light-duty electric vehicles and two Toyota Prius hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) for light maintenance and park transportation. In addition, the park has an electric tractor vehicle used to haul cleaning supplies to the restrooms, pick up and transport garbage, and to perform routine maintenance work. "The electric tractor is quieter than a conventional vehicle, and it does not disturb the wildlife as much," says Roads and Trails Supervisor Richard Mayle.Redwood National and State Parks currently has an onsite biodiesel (B20) refueling station. "Biodiesel is inconsistent because it usually takes a few weeks to get a shipment to our remote location. Sometimes the fuel arrives in a few days and other times it takes a couple of weeks," says Mayle. "Biodiesel also costs a little bit more than conventional fossil fuel diesel, but we have noticed that biodiesel is cleaner and seems better for the environment."
For additional information, visit the Redwood National and State Parks Web site or contact Richard Mayle at richard_mayle@nps.gov.
Seattle Tacoma International Airport
Last Updated: August 22, 2007
In 2001, the Port of Seattle Aviation Division adopted a fleet vehicle purchase policy that required the purchase of alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs), whenever feasible and practical, to replace conventional petroleum vehicles. The Seattle Tacoma (Sea-Tac) International Airport's fleet is currently composed of 60 compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles, including 16 buses and 41 light-duty vehicles (LDVs)--all of which display the slogan "Doing our share for cleaner air naturally." Sea-Tac's fleet also includes seven propane LDVs, nine hybrid LDVs and 91 ground support units that operate on electricity. In 2005, the Sea-Tac Airport received the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Air Excellence Award in recognition of the implementation of air quality programs such as the fleet vehicle purchase policy.
The Port required airport taxi and shuttle services to switch to CNG vehicles. Shuttle Express currently has 27 CNG shuttle vans serving the airport. Shuttle Express operates more than 33% of its total trip mileage using the CNG vans. The Seattle-Tacoma International Taxi Association operates all of its 166 taxi cab fleet with CNG-fueled Ford Crown Victorias. The Port of Seattle's Air Quality Web site reports that the CNG fleet is expected to produce 149 fewer tons of carbon monoxide and 24 fewer tons of oxides of nitrogen each year compared to conventional vehicles.
The Port partnered with Clean Energy to install, operate, and maintain a full-service CNG fueling station at Sea-Tac, which is open to the public and operates 24 hours a day. Sea-Tac currently has plans to add an additional public CNG fueling station, as well as increase the number of CNG buses in its fleet.
For more information, contact Russ Simonson, senior environmental program manager, Port of Seattle, Aviation Division, at simonson.r@portseattle.org.
