Winter Weather No Match for Biodiesel Blends

From the National Biodiesel Board:

New York City Plows the Way with Biodiesel Blends

The largest municipal user of biodiesel, New York City, even counts on biodiesel blends to power snow removal equipment. The New York City Parks & Recreation Department was the first city agency to pilot biodiesel in 2005 and continues its use of B20.

The 850-vehicle strong diesel fleet helps to maintain more than 29,000 acres in New York City. The fleet includes more than 40 different types of vehicles and equipment – handling everything from snow removal to landscape and parks maintenance to road construction and waste management.

The New York City Sanitation Department also uses biodiesel blends in vehicles used to fight winter weather, such as salt spreaders and plows. "We can't afford for our garbage trucks not to run," said Supervisor of Mechanics Spiro Kattan. "Our trucks don't only pick up garbage, they are also equipped with snowplow hitches. We're a part of the city's snow emergency plans and the residents of New York City would not be too happy if our vehicles went down during a snow storm."

Further, JFK International Airport uses B20 to keep runways clear even in the worst of snowstorms.

Bioheat ® Warms Homes & Offices

In addition, New York City enacted a groundbreaking law requiring that all heating oil sold in the city contain at least 2 percent biodiesel beginning in October 2012. Bioheat® is already keeping many homes and offices warm this winter, including New York City Parks buildings.

For More Information

NBB’s website includes a number of resources about the operability of biodiesel blends in cold climates -- www.biodiesel.org/cold. For more information on Bioheat®, visit: http://www.bioheatonline.com.