Fleet Service Management: Part 2 —

Part 2 — Arlington welcomes benefits of biodiesel

By RON KOTRBA | for the American Lung Association

In part one of this series, we learn about the village of Arlington Heights, Ill.’s, adoption of biodiesel. Now we’ll explore the benefits the village has witnessed.

ABOVE: Ray Salisbury, fleet services foreman for the village of Arlington Heights, Ill., is a major supporter of biodiesel and is happy to share his fleet’s story with other municipalities and public entities. (Photo provided)

Ray Salisbury, fleet services foreman for the village of Arlington Heights, Ill., said although he doesn’t get a lot of driver feedback about biodiesel, this might be because it took them a long time to realize they were even using it. And when switching to an “alternative fuel,” no reaction from those using it is often the best reaction.

“Some techs on the floor noticed the cleaner air,” Salisbury said. “But what we’ve really noticed is not having the diesel particulate filter (DPF) issues others have.”

DPFs trap the sooty particulate matter from the diesel exhaust and then, on occasion, “regenerate” the unit by burning off the collected soot.

“Out of six ambulances close to 10 years old, we’ve only replaced two DPFs,” he said. “Others replace them on a regular basis.” He attributes this to fewer “regens” due to biodiesel’s significantly lower soot output and, as a result, a longer and better life from those components.

Coming soon to a pump near you

The state of Illinois has long had a biodiesel law on the books that incentivizes blends of biodiesel above 10%, making B11, a blend of 11% biodiesel and 89% conventional diesel fuel, a common blend offered in the state. Recently, however, the Illinois Soybean Growers, with support from industry stakeholders and partners, put forth legislation that passed both chambers and was signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker to extend the current B11 sales tax exemption until 2023 and provide a gradual increase in the blend exemption to biodiesel blends over B13 in 2024, B16 in 2025 and B19 in 2026. The updated law is expected to add an additional 125 million gallons of demand for biodiesel, bringing the state’s annual consumption north of 300 million gallons.

Through his association with the B20 Club, Salisbury helped educate legislators and promote B20 usage by giving multiple presentations to state and local elected officials.

“I am excited by it,” Salisbury said. “It’s great to know that the village and I were able to play a part in the passage of that bill. It’s important not only for the village of Arlington Heights, but also for the entire state and country. We have to move to cleaner-burning fuels and technologies. Electrification of large, heavy-duty trucks is going to take a long while— this is something we can do during the transition to immediately improve the quality of life for everyone.”

A solid partnership

The relationship between Salisbury, the village of Arlington Heights and the B20 Club goes beyond speaking engagements, promotions and networking, though. They have also partnered on Arbor Day tree plantings, grant and educational opportunities and employeeappreciation events, to name just a few collaborations. “Those things all mean a lot to the employees here,” Salisbury said.

The help is a two-way street. “I cannot thank Ray enough for all the work he does for biodiesel and B20, especially during meetings and events with the American Public Works Association, Municipal Fleet Managers Association and Chicago Area Clean Cities,” Bailey Arnold, director of Clean Air Initiatives for the American Lung Association and lead of the B20 Club of Illinois, said. “Ray is always one of the first to speak to the benefits of B20 and defend it when someone shares dated information. In that way, and many others, the B20 Club’s partnership with the village has been an invaluable one, all thanks to his leadership.”

Salisbury’s response is simply, “It’s easy to do when you enjoy doing it.”

Using biodiesel is not the only way Salisbury and the public works department are helping the municipality go green. The village is participating in a program through MC Squared Energy Services to procure the village’s electricity supply from renewable sources like wind and solar. The village also purchased several hybrids, including an aerial truck, floor scrubber and several police interceptors. It has also transitioned street lighting and traffic signals to LED lighting, as well as the public works facility. Police squad cars and other municipal vehicles are also using soy-based Goodyear tires. The use of soy-based hydraulic fluids and other lower-carbon products are also being considered by Salisbury. But the village’s embrace of B20 biodiesel is perhaps the most impactful and widely publicized greenenergy effort, thanks to its partnership with the B20 Club of Illinois.

All told, the village’s two new dispensers at the public works department distribute about 76,000 gallons of B20 a year. According to figures quantified by the American Lung Association, the village’s year-round use of B20 reduces annual CO2 emissions by more than 144 tons, which is equivalent to 143,054 fewer pounds of coal being burned or the planting of 2,164 new trees.

When asked what he would say to a municipality or fleet that was unsure about using B20 to assure them it was the right thing to do, Salisbury said, “I would tell them just try it one time — fill your tank with B20 and run it one time. It’s an easy, drop-in solution and you don’t have to make any changes to your vehicles or operations. It’s one of the easiest environmental benefits you can provide. There is no difference in cost, but it’ll make a big impact. Once you do it, you’re going to keep doing it.” Some techs on the floor noticed the cleaner air and a decrease in the number of diesel particulate filter (DPF) issues. (Photo provided)

Pictured is one of Arlington Heights’ biodiesel pumps. Several outside agencies—including the school and park districts—can also use the pumps. (Photo provided)