SF Diesel Fleet now 100% Biodiesel
(November 30, 2007)
Largest city fleet implementation of biodiesel anywhere in the nation
SAN FRANCISCO, CA--Today, Mayor Gavin Newsom announced that 100% of the City's approximately 1,500 diesel vehicles have been converted to run on biodiesel, a month earlier than the goal set by his administration in 2006. The City's diesel fleet includes MUNI buses, several fire engines, ambulances and street sweepers, among other vehicles.
"Every city bears responsibility for taking local action to address our global climate crisis," said Mayor Newsom. "When it comes to the use of alternative fuels, renewable energy sources and greening our City fleet, San Francisco is demonstrating leadership and commitment on every front."
The conversion from traditional diesel fuel to biodiesel is made possible by the use of B20, a mix of 20% biofuel and 80% petroleum diesel fuel. The conversion to biodiesel translates to roughly displacing 1.2 million gallons of diesel fuel each year.
Use of biodiesel will enable the City to achieve significant reductions in diesel exhaust, a toxic air contaminant linked to an array of serious health problems. Biodiesel usage also greatly reduces carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, toxic air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions. The San Francisco Bay Area is second only to Los Angeles in the health impacts from diesel pollution.
In addition to the implementation of biodiesel for its municipal fleet, the City has worked for more than a year on other biodiesel projects through the City's Biodiesel Access Task Force, including the opening of the first viable biodiesel fueling station in San Francisco at the Olympic station at 2690 Third Street.
Earlier this month, San Francisco launched SFGreasecycle, a citywide program to collect waste grease for conversion to biodiesel, the first program of its kind in the country. The aim is for this program to one day serve to fuel the entire City municipal vehicle fleet. Upon full implementation of the program, the City anticipates collecting approximately 6 million pounds (or 1 million gallons) of grease annually. This will translate to nearly 1 million gallons of biofuel.
San Francisco's progress on biodiesel conversion puts San Francisco on track to meet its commitments under the Local Climate Action Plan, which calls for reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 20% below 1990 levels by 2012.