City fleet prepares for transfer to cleaner fuel
Posted on Monday, January 29, 2007
Fayetteville is going green with biodiesel.
In the months ahead, trash trucks, backhoes, construction equipment, and trucks and equipment used by the Parks and Recreation, Water and Wastewater, and Street departments will begin fueling at the city’s new biodiesel fuel farm.
Biodiesel fuel is made from oils, such as canola or soybean oils, blended with diesel to reduce carbon dioxide, according to Iowa State University Office of Biorenewables Programs.
“ We’ve always been a very environmentally conscious and responsible community, ” said David Bragg, fleet manager for the city.
The plan is to convert all diesel use to a 20-percent blend of biodiesel and 80-percent petroleum diesel, which is the highest ratio approved by most engine manufacturers, Bragg said.
The object of the changeover is cleaner air and energy independence.
At a meeting earlier this month between city officials and state legislators, Bragg said the city hopes to be pumping fuel at the new fuel farm sometime in April if construction began in January.
Perry Franklin, the city’s transportation superintendent, said Friday that site work preparation is about done for the fuel farm, which will be located on the south side of the city’s operations center on 15 th Street.
Bragg concentrated on the environment when citing reasons for choosing the alternative to oil-based fuel.
“ It is renewable, ” he said. “ It is produced within the continental United States in its entirety. It burns cleaner. It does not have the noxious smoke commonly associated with diesel engines. ”
Fayetteville will use the fuel for about 300 vehicles, “ typically the heavyduty pickups and up, ” said Bragg.
The city fleet will use only certified fuel produced in a recognized facility to government specifications.
“ We can be assured we will emit a cleaner exhaust than we’ve had before, ” Bragg said. He said biodiesel greatly reduces the carcinogen effect of diesel smoke. But the environment is not the only reason for the change. The interest in environment sustainability and biodiesel is being incorporated into the city’s need to build its own fuel farm. About six years ago, the city contracted for diesel fuel at a site near Razorback Road and Sixth Street. That facility is going to be redeveloped, requiring the city to move its fueling operations, Bragg said. “ We’ve done some time studies that indicate that it’s costing us a substantial amount of money to travel to that facility to fuel, ” Bragg said.
Comparing Costs The changeover will not necessarily save the city money. “ With diesel at about $ 2. 50 a gallon, it’s a wash, ” Bragg said. It may cost the city more if the price of diesel drops below that figure, but the city could save if diesel prices go above $ 2. 50 per gallon, he said. Bragg estimated about 65 percent of the city’s current fuel usage is diesel. Annually, the city uses about 285, 000 gallons of diesel fuel, Bragg said, calculating the cost at about $ 712, 000, assuming $ 2. 50 per gallon. “ The fuel farm needed to happen anyway, ” he said. “ It’s a separate issue, but it’s a related issue. ” The primary reason for the change to biodiesel is environmental — that it is a reneweable, domestically produced fuel, Bragg said. The move from the current fueling site to a location closer to the departments ’ home bases at the operations center is expected save money on manpower, particularly with crew vehicles, which are typically filled on the way to or from a job. “ You have not just the driver but the whole crew waiting while you’re doing that travel, ” Bragg said.
Award winning Fayetteville was selected last fall as one of the top 100 fleets in North America. It was the only entity in Arkansas to make the list.
Fleet Equipment magazine selected its 100 Best Fleets from 39, 000 public fleet departments based on 12 criteria intended to identify the most efficient public vehicle operations on the continent.
The criteria categories were: accountability; use of technology and information; evidence of a high trust culture; performance recognition; collaboration; creativity; celebration; doing it right the first time; quick, efficient turnaround; competitive pricing; staff development; and resources stewardship.
Fayetteville excelled in innovations, creativity and personnel management, according to a press release about the award.
The document stated the city crew of 17 showed a “ high trust culture” and team spirit.
“ The employees trust each other, and the customers (city departments ) trust the work of the fleet department that repairs are done correctly the first time. Mechanics collaborate on ways to improve operations, ” according to the press release.
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