Grainnet

Jefferson City, MO-–The White House presented the prestigious Closing the Circle (CTC) Awards at a ceremony June 12, and three of the winners use a 20% biodiesel blend (B20) to help them achieve outstanding environmental track records.

They are the Department of Defense, Naval Station Great Lakes; the Department of Energy Green Fleet Team and the U.S. Postal Service.

“We’re thrilled to see the use of biodiesel within the Federal government continuing to grow and its users recognized with this important award,” said Joe Jobe, Chief Executive Officer of the National Biodiesel Board (NBB).

“These fleets are important models to their peers as well as the nation at large.

"They are leaders in the government’s efforts to protect the environment as well as executing President Bush’s goal of reducing dependence on foreign oil by 75% by 2025.”

Executive Order 13101, “Greening the Government through Waste Prevention, Recycling, and Federal Acquisition,” established the Closing the Circle awards program.

The order has expanded and strengthened the Federal government’s commitment to waste prevention, recycling and buying recycled content and environmentally preferable products and services, including biodiesel and other biobased products.

The Awards recognize government agency’s and their employees’ efforts to have a positive impact on the environment.

This year, 16 winners and 11 honorable mentions were selected from nearly 200 nominations in the areas of environmental management systems; pollution prevention; recycling; green product purchasing; alternative fuels; sustainable building and electronics stewardship.

The three nominees that won because of their commitment to biodiesel are:

-Department of Defense, Naval Station Great Lakes, IL, “Base Support Transportation Team.”

The Naval Station is in the process of building an onsite biodiesel fueling facility and plans to begin using B20 in 152 vehicles this summer.

-Department of Energy, Green Fleet Team, “Petroleum Fuel Reduction Through Alternative Fuels.”

Three of the four DOE facilities included in the nomination are using B20.

They include: Sandia National Lab in Albuquerque, NM; Idaho National Lab, Idaho Falls, ID; and Pantex Facility, Amarillo, TX.

The four facilities (also includes Savannah River Site, SC) represent 62% of DOE's total alternative fuel use and displaced a total of 370,000 gasoline gallon equivalents (GGE) of petroleum in FY 2005.

-U.S. Postal Service, “Expansion of Biodiesel Utilization at USPS."

The U.S. Postal Service nearly tripled its use of biodiesel from approximately 417,790 GGE in FY2000, to 1,142,631 gasoline gallon equivalents (GGE) in FY2005.

In addition, USPS initiated a Fleet Testing and Evaluation of Biodiesel Fuel Blends and Fuel System project designed to evaluate biodiesel and its enhanced lubricity in terms of mechanical wear of engine components, compatibility with non-metal engine items, solvent action, deposit-forming tendencies, and corrosive potential against the effects of conventional on-road diesel fuel.

The results were positive and the agency shared them with industry, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), and others in an effort to educate and promote the use of biodiesel.

Because of the positive results, USPS plans to increase biodiesel use in future years.

Biodiesel is a cleaner burning alternative fuel that can be used in any diesel engine in pure form or blended with petroleum diesel.

A domestically produced, renewable fuel, it can be made from any fat or vegetable oil, such as soybean oil.

It reduces emissions while offering similar performance to petroleum diesel.

Biodiesel has the highest energy balance of any liquid fuel.

For every unit of energy used to make biodiesel, 3.2 units are gained.

Biodiesel has become America’s fastest growing alternative fuel according to DOE.

Production tripled in 2005, reaching 75 million gallons.

More than 800 filling stations make biodiesel available to the public, and 1,700 petroleum distributors carry it nationwide.

More than 600 fleets use biodiesel, including government and military, commercial and school bus fleets.

The United Soybean Board and state soybean checkoff boards funded much of the development of the biodiesel industry in the United States through the soybean checkoff.

Soybean farmers have invested millions of dollars in bringing biodiesel into commercial success.

For more information, call Jenna Higgins at 800-841-5849.

See Related Websites/Articles:

• National Biodiesel Board

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