South Portland launches biodiesel pilot programme

In the US, the city of South Portland has launched a pilot programme to run a proportion of its municipal vehicles on locally produced biodiesel.

During the year-long programme, the Maine city will trial the use of 20% biodiesel (B20) produced by Maine Standard Biofuels, which would upon success be expanded to the city’s entire vehicle fleet.

With a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to do away with fossil fuels, South Portland adopted in 2014 a new Climate Action Plan, which includes the notion of trialling biodiesel to determine its feasibility.

Maine Standard Biofuels recycles used cooking oil, which it collects from New England restaurants, to make biodiesel at its Portland-based refinery.

“South Portland generates enough used cooking oil to make nearly 60,000 gallons of B20 biodiesel fuel that could reduce CO₂ emissions by over 200 tonnes,” the city administration said in a statement.

Julie Rosenbach, South Portland’s sustainability coordinator, acknowledges that in the past there have been issues with biofuels.

 “That is why we are conducting this pilot programme. I am excited to partner with a local company using a waste product to develop a sustainable fuel to turn this experience around,” she said.