Partnership aims to support biodiesel vehicle fleets

INDIANAPOLIS (Inside INdiana Business) — The Indiana Soybean Alliance and the American Lung Association have joined forces to support Hoosier vehicle fleets that are working to improve the state’s carbon footprint. The organizations have formed the B20 Club of Indiana and added four fleets, which use a cleaner-burning blend of diesel fuel, as inaugural members.

The vehicles use B20, a blend of 20% biodiesel and 80% ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel. The B20 Club says the fleets will use nearly 1.3 million gallons of the fuel blend annually, which will reduce the amount of carbon dioxide and equivalents by nearly 5 million pounds.

The four inaugural member fleets are being used by the city of Fort Wayne, Ball State University, Hammond-based Al Warren Oil Co., and its sister company, Altom Transport. The fleets total nearly 700 vehicles.

“The B20 Club is a great way to tell the stories of fleets in diverse applications that are protecting the health of residents and the environment by reducing diesel emissions through the use of biodiesel,” said Helena Jette, biofuels director for the Indiana Soybean Alliance. “Biodiesel provides an important market for Indiana soybean farmers, so we are thrilled to welcome the inaugural members and our new relationship with the Lung Association.”

The B20 Club says having the vehicles on the streets will result in an annual health cost savings of nearly $60,000.

The organization says its goal is to support select Indiana-based fleets running on biodiesel blends of 20% or higher, including both public and private fleets such as municipalities, park districts, trucking companies, mass transit, and airport transportation among others. To be eligible for membership, fleets must have at least 15 vehicles operating on biodiesel blends of 20% or higher for at least six months of the year.