City expands use of environmentally friendly biodiesel fuel

Brie Matthews, a 12-year San Francisco paramedic, relates her safety concern
for patients, herself and coworkers which spawned her idea to move the City
toward greater use of biodiesel fuel.
Photo(s) by Luke Thomas

From the Mayor's Office of Communications

May 19, 2006

Standing in front of a gleaming red SFFD Hook and Ladder, Mayor Gavin Newsom yesterday announced an ambitious new citywide initiative to increase use of biodiesel and reduce the harmful effects on air quality of regular diesel fuel.

Newsom also issued an executive directive to increase the pace of municipal use of biodisel, making San Francisco the largest U.S. city to ever institute such broad biodiesel use.

The City uses about 8 million gallons of diesel a year. That means the switch to a B20 (a blend of 20% biodiesel and 80% petroleum diesel) could create demand for up to two million gallons of pure biodiesel annually.

Biodiesel significantly cuts harmful environmental emissions, promotes greater energy independence and boosts our economy. Biodiesel is a renewable diesel fuel that is made from domestic resources such as soybean oil of other domestic fats and vegetable oils. It can be used in any diesel engine with few or no medications, and can be blended with petroleum diesel at any level.

"San Francisco has long been a leader in its commitment to alternative transportation Fuels to promote clean air, encourage renewable energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions," said Newsom.

Mayor Gavin Newsom

Supervisor Jake McGoldrick said, "With abundant renewable energy resources and local expertise from our biodiesel cooperatives and distributors San Francisco has all the elements necessary to create a biodiesel fueling infrastructure. I am enthusiastic about the potential to make San Francisco the national leader in biodiesel use."

Supervisor Jake McGoldrick

Spearheading the effort to transition to biodiesel, the San Francisco Fire Department has initiated a ix-month pilot program to test and monitor the use of B20 in two fire trucks, six engines and one ambulance.

The program will take place in the southeastern section of San Francisco, an area that consistently experiences the City's poorest air quality. Upon successful completion of the pilot program, the Fire Department expects to expand the use of biodiesel throughout its fleet.

Since 1999, the City's Health Air and Smog prevention ordinance has established requirements for City fleets to purchase vehicles using alternative fuels or energy efficient vehicles with low emissions. San Francisco now has more than 800 alternative fuel vehicles in its fleet.

Several City departments and agencies are already using B20, including the San Francisco Airport, Department of Public Works, Muni buses, and the San Francisco Zoo. Ferries operating out of San Francisco also have used B20 with excellent results.

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