Anthony Lancaster, Fleet Maintenance Supervisor, DC Water

Sustainability is more than a buzzword at DC Water. Ingrained throughout the agency, sustainability is in high gear at DC Water’s fleet division where biodiesel fuel powers all 230-diesel vehicles, and emissions are closely monitored.

“Biodiesel just makes sense,” said Timothy Fitzgerald, Director Fleet Management for DC Water. “We switched to biodiesel in 2007 and have never looked back. It can be used in existing diesel engines, reduces emissions, and our drivers notice a big difference in fumes. 

Between October 1, 2015- August 31, 2016, DC Water displaced nearly 15,000 gallons of petroleum diesel through its use of B20 (a blend of 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent petroleum diesel). Importantly, this B20 use resulted in an estimated 15 percent reduction in carbon dioxide; 12 percent reduction in carbon monoxide; 20 percent reduction in both hydrocarbon and sulfur dioxide and 12 percent reduction in particulate matter, compared to US EPA-approved petroleum diesel. (Calculations Source http://biodiesel.org/using-biodiesel/handling-use/emissions-calculator )

More than 672,000 residents, 17.8 million annual visitors, and 700,000 people who are employed in the District of Columbia count on DC Water. The agency maintains infrastructure above and below ground.

DC Water’s important work requires a large diesel fleet, including sewer trucks, utility and dump trucks, crane trucks, crew cabs and many other vehicles and equipment. Government Fleet named DC Water one of the 100 Best Fleets for 2013 and many other DC area fleets follow DC Water’s lead. Because of his leadership, the NBB has tapped Fitzgerald to be a Biodiesel Ambassador, a program also supported by the United Soybean Board.

In addition to using biodiesel, Fitzgerald has incorporated the use of fleet management software that helps monitor everything from emissions to driver safety. He also works with original equipment manufacturers to ensure that all vehicles are designed to meet clean-idling specifications.

The fleet division also shrank the environmental impact of its maintenance operations through the use of soy-biobased products, such as adhesive remover, hydraulic fluid, hand cleaner, grease and engine oil.

“We look for opportunities to do right by the environment and our employees in every aspect of our operation – from the vehicles, to shop supplies, to building operation and maintenance,” Fitzgerald added.

Made from an increasingly diverse mix of resources such as soybean oil, recycled cooking oil and animal fats, biodiesel is a renewable, clean-burning diesel replacement that can be used in existing diesel engines. It is the first and only commercial-scale fuel produced across the U.S. to meet the EPA’s definition as an Advanced Biofuel - meaning the EPA has determined that biodiesel reduces greenhouse gas emissions by more than 50 percent when compared with petroleum diesel. Americans used nearly 2.1 billion gallons of biodiesel last year.

With nearly 200 member companies, NBB is the leading U.S. trade association representing the biodiesel and renewable diesel industries.

For more details visit www.americasadvancedbiofuel.com or www.biodiesel.org

National Biodiesel Board

National Biodiesel Board

The National Biodiesel Board is the national trade association representing America's first Advanced Biofuel. The group works to create sustainable biodiesel industry growth through education, communication, governmental affairs, technical and quality assurance programs. Serving as the coordinating body for research and development in the US the National Biodiesel Board is comprised of state, national, and international feedstock and feedstock processor organizations, biodiesel suppliers, fuel marketers and distributors, and technology providers.

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