Vancouver switches to 100% renewable diesel

All diesel vehicles in the City of Vancouver’s fleet will be fuelled by 100% renewable diesel, according to a statement.

The City has signed a new supply contract with integrated energy company, Suncor.

“This new contract concretely demonstrates our commitment to greening our operations and deriving 100% of our energy from renewable sources,” said Jerry Dobrovolny, manager of Engineering Services at City of Vancouver.

“This shift in fuel, in conjunction with the ways we are optimising and electrifying our fleet, proves that we are walking the talk and finding innovative ways to respond to climate change and its devastating impacts.”

Since 2006 Suncor has been heavily involved in Canada’s biofuel’s industry, particularly in ethanol production. The company owns and operates the country’s largest ethanol facility, the St. Clair ethanol plant in the Sarnia-Lambton region of Ontario, which uses corn bushels as a feedstock. According to The Star Vancouver however, the vehicles in the city fleet will be run on renewable diesel made from waste sources.

The City of Vancouver has ambitious goals as part of its Renewable City Strategy and Greenest City Action Plan. The Greenest City Action Plan sets a 2030 target of a 50% reduction in emissions from City operation compared to 2007 levels.

According to the City of Vancouver statement, the planned implementation of 100% renewable fuel in the diesel fleet will see this target reached in 2019.