University of Washington to convert from B5 to B20; B90 is goal

In Washington State, the University of Washington is converting its fleet from B5 to B20 effective this month. The fleet converted to B5 in fall 2006. The University indicated that it plans to ultimately convert to B90.

Washington State’s C-Tran downshifts from B20 to B5, citing gelling issues. However, Seattle has, in general, been very biodiesel friendly. Propel Biofuels recently launched a 9000 sq ft biodiesel-only station in Seattle; B20 and B99 available at four pumps. Seattle is also home to Imperium Renewables, which operates a 100 Mgy biodiesel plant in Grays Harbor.

The conversion would add to a lengthy list of recent conversions to B5 and B20.

• In Orlando, Mayor Richard Crotty said he would support a proposal to convert all Orange County diesel-powered fleet to B20.
• In Colorado, Blue Sun will supply its Fusion 20 biodiesel to the 45-truck Corporate Express fleet in Colorado and Kansas.
• In Arizona, Dole Fresh Vegetables has converted its harvesting equipment in B20 biodiesel. The company had been testing B20 since August in both farm equipment and its off-road vehicles.
• Safeway Stores announced last week that it is converting its entire nationwide fleet to B20 biodiesel, following a successful conversion of the company’s 79-truck Arizona fleet to B20 last August.
• In North Carolina, Chapel Hill converted 60 percent of its vehicles to alternative fuels with a goal of 100 percent conversion by 2012. The town most recently converted biodiesel trucks and E85-ready police cars.
• Recently, Burlington, NC converted to B10 biodiesel for its city vehicles after concluding a successful test of B5 which began in July. Burlington hopes to convert eventually to B20, but cited the need for a slow transition due to the cleaning effect of biodiesel which can clog fuel filters. The city saw fuel cost increases of 20 cents per gallon when the pilot program commenced, but prices have subsequently dropped and now provide a one-cent savings.
• In Oregon, the city of Cottage Grove is converting its city vehicle fleet to biodiesel, while earlier in the month five Pennsylvania school districts announced a switch to B20 biodiesel.
• New York’s Oneonta Public Transit siwtched to B20 for buses on all five of its bus routes.
• Fresh Direct will convert its fleet of 150 delivery trucks to B5 in February 2008.
• Montclair, NJ switched its 70-plus diesel-powered fleet and off-road equipment to B20 biodiesel late last year.
• In New Hampshire, Cranmore Mountain Resort has reported that its fleet of trucks, which operate on B20, have experienced no problems relating to the effect of cold on biodiesel, at temperatures as low as minus 20 Fahrenheit. Cranmore is one of two New Hampshire ski resports that have converted to biodiessel.
• Mount Sunapee Resort, converted its snow grooming and snow removal equipment to B20 biodiesel, and converted its hearing systems to B5.
• In Maryland, state highway officials said that they have converted snowplows to a B5 blend this season, and expect to convert their equipment to B20 in 2008-09.

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