City To Study Changing Diesel Fleet Over To Biodiesel

By Kelly Garrison
Features Editor

Long Beach soon may follow in the footsteps of several other California cities that have reduced their carbon footprint on the earth, using a new kind of fuel.

The City Council directed City Manager Pat West to investigate the feasibility of using biodiesel to power its 361 city-owned trucks, large cars and other diesel vehicles. The fuel allows engines to get about 400 miles out of each tank and is 35% more energy efficient than petroleum diesel.

“I think it’s a wonderful time for the city to explore the use of biodiesel, because it has tremendous benefits,” said Vice Mayor Bonnie Lowenthal. “All of us in city government are committed to improving the environment in every way we can.”

Seventh District Councilwoman Tonia Reyes Uranga opposed the plan, saying there wer other pollution issues related to a biodiesel mix. Uranga sits on the Air Quality Management District Board.

Lowenthal got behind the wheel of a biodiesel-converted Volkswagen Beetle this week after winning a three-day test run of the car at a Los Angeles League of Conservation Voters event. She spent some of the time taking environmentalists and other interested community members on excursions through different parts of the city.

“Anyone interested (took) a ride around the block to see that a car with biofuel acts the same way as any other car would and vastly improves the environment,” she said.

Vehicles that run on biodiesel get about 47 miles per gallon and provide a renewable, cleaner alternative fuel with lower toxic exhaust emissions than petroleum. Lowenthal said she supports its use, because it would help reduce the city’s dependence on fossil fuels.

City staff said they expect that little will be required to convert the fleet to use biodiesel fuel. In addition, the city may install a biodiesel pump or station to serve both public and private vehicles.

First District Chief of Staff Niki Tennant said that the city of Los Angeles also is considering use of the fuel. Santa Barbara and San Francisco already have incorporated biodiesel into their fleets.

Last summer, the City Council voted in favor of partnering with a national campaign to support the use of rechargeable Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles.

The city’s fleet of vehicles currently includes several hundred alternate fuel vehicles; there are a total of about 1,600 vehicles in the Long Beach fleet, many of which run on Compressed Natural Gas.

In December last year, the city’s diesel vehicles consumed 21,649 gallons of diesel fuel. If the city uses biodiesel, it could become eligible to apply for state and federal incentives, tax credits and other programs.