Diesel exhaust is a point source of a number of pollutants, including (but not limited to) particulate matter, hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, sulfates, and sulfur oxide.  Particulate matter found in diesel exhaust contains noxious compounds such as benzene, butadiene, dioxin, and mercury.  These particles, along with hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide gases, are inhaled by operators and users of diesel vehicles and mass transport, leading to respiratory infections, eye irritations, and risk of heart disease and lung cancer.  Hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide are major contributors to ozone deterioration and smog, while sulfate and sulfur oxide emissions induce acid rain.

Utilization of B20 in place of petro-diesel fuel can reduce hydrocarbons by 30%, particulate matter by 22%, carbon monoxide by 20%, and sulfates/sulfur oxides by 20%. Unlike other alternative fuels such as compressed and liquefied natural gas , biodiesel also reduces the amount of carbon dioxide emitted over the fuel lifecycle by 78%.  Finally, biodiesel is the only alternative fuel to qualify for both Tier I and Tier II Health Effects Testing by the Department of Energy under the Clean Air Act. 

By utilizing B20 in place of petroleum-based diesel fuel, Sarasota County can maintain and/or improve ambient air quality, reducing health risks of county employees, transit users, and citizens. Conversion to a biodiesel blend will also decrease fossil fuel usage, thus conserving natural resources and reducing dependency on foreign energy reserves.  Last, investment in biodiesel is an investment in domestic agriculture and the U.S. economy.

Conversion to Biodiesel

 Biodiesel can be utilized in any typical diesel engine with few to no modifications.  When Dr. Rudolph Diesel built the first diesel engine in 1895, he intended it to run on a variety of fuels, including refined vegetable oil.  In fact, in one of his first engine demonstrations, he chose peanut oil as the fuel. Biodiesel is “nothing new” and diesel engines can be quickly and easily converted to this clean-burning fuel.

Because biodiesel is a detergent, it tends to clean out the engine and can initially clog fuel filters in its “pure” B100 form.  For this reason, it is cautious to convert a vehicle fleet to a B20 blend initially rather than performing a full conversion to B100.  According to recent reports, conversion to B20 is a painless process that does not require any retrofitting of engine parts or extended maintenance.  B20 actually runs cleaner, increases lubricity, and reduces engine wear.  At the same time, it is less toxic and more biodegradable than petroleum-based diesel.

Biodiesel does not require any special storage facilities (except that it cannot be stored in concrete tanks).  Sarasota County will convert to biodiesel by refilling its existing diesel tanks with biodiesel.   Fleet Management, Transit, and Fire Operations will monitor and maintain fuel filters on vehicles and fuel tanks as needed.

Proven Results

Biodiesel has been proven as a high performance, reliable alternative fuel in a number of tests, so far logging over 10 million miles in private and public usage. Over 200 government fleets currently run on B20, including air force bases, emergency response units, public transit lines, national parks, USDA stations, school districts, Department of Transportation offices, and public works departments. Positive results abound from these experiences, which demonstrate that conversion to biodiesel can significantly reduce emissions through a minimal investment in fuel cost and vehicle maintenance.

Biodiesel as an Alternative Fuel for Sarasota County (November 2003)
Biodiesel User Survey (B20-B100)  (November 2003)
Biodiesel Performance Survey, B20  (November 2003)
Biodiesel Performance Survey, B50-B100  (November 2003)
Biodiesel Survey Results Overview  (November 2003)
Sarasota County Biodiesel Program Proposal (October 2002)