By Daily Press staff
The city of Santa Monica is cleaning up its act. The city has switched to biodiesel — a cleaner, more environmentally preferable fuel for 80 of its hardest working, heavy duty vehicles and equipment. The move is part of a larger program to promote alternative-fuel vehicles, an effort that has transformed 70 percent of the fleet to clean-air fuel technologies. The move is a step in protecting the public and the operators from the damaging effects of diesel emissions, officials said.
Biodiesel is a renewable source of fuel that is less toxic than petroleum diesel, naturally biodegradable, and free of aromatic hydrocarbons. It is made from organic fats and oils such as virgin and recycled vegetable oil. The use of biodiesel dramatically reduces hydrocarbon emissions, particulate matter, carbon monoxide and sulfur, all of which contribute to poor air quality and have a negative effect on the health of children, officials said. Nitrogen oxide (NOx), a contributor to smog, is the only pollutant that is expected to increase slightly.
Though currently a pilot program, the sustainable fuel is seeing a wider acceptance in the market and city officials hope the switch will eventually be made permanent.
“If everything goes well with B20, we’ll introduce B100, or 100 percent biofu-el,” said Rick Sikes, superintendent of fleet operations. “Then, people may actually enjoy the smell of diesel engine exhaust.”
The environmental attributes of the new fuel are especially significant for the city’s beach maintenance crew, which relies on diesel fuel for its daily operations and for pressure-washers used to clean the streets and sidewalks of retail districts throughout the city.
“This equipment is deployed seven days a week on our beaches and streets, so this change is a huge step forward in making our operations more sustainable,” said the city’s solid waste supervisor, Wes Thompson.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 25, 2005. Read the original PDF.