NEWS INFORMATION FROM |
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THE OFFICE OF MAYOR STEPHEN R. REED |
FOR IMMEDIATE USE |
CITY FLEET BEGINS USING BIOFUELS; REDUCING COSTS, POLLUTION AND FOREIGN FUEL NEEDSMayor Stephen R. Reed today announced that the City of Harrisburg has begun using biodiesel fuel in its fleet of diesel-run vehicles. The new fuel mixture will save money for the city on fuel purchases and provides a cleaner, non-foreign fuel supply source that is grown locally. Reed said the city has entered into a partnership with United Biofuels to provide the cleaner-burning fuel, which is made from soybean oil and grown on farms in the midstate. The cost of the fuel mixture is slightly less than an average gallon of diesel fuel, for which the city currently pays $2.17 per gallon. The biofuel mixture is expected to cost approximately $2.10 per gallon, with a savings of at least $5,250 or more per year. The Mayor said having the fuel locally produced also reduces transportation and service costs, which helps to lower the price of each gallon to the consumer. Reed said in addition to the city government fleet using the new biofuel, the agencies the city currently provides fuel services for are also now using it, including the Harrisburg School District, the Commonwealth of PA, Dauphin County, Borough of Steelton, Community LifeTeam and various other city authorities and agencies. Nearly 35,000 gallons of diesel fuel are consumed during an average month by the participating entities. “We are delighted to announce today’s new partnership with United biofuel,” said the Mayor. “Not only is biodiesel fuel cheaper than regular diesel, realizing savings for us, it also is made from soybeans grown right here in the midstate, which helps the midstate’s agricultural industry and our own economy.” Reed said the new biodiesel is a “user-friendly” fuel, meaning that it requires no special mixing, storage or dispensing equipment, thus reducing or eliminating any changeover costs. No engine or fuel system modifications are needed for any of the vehicles using biodiesel either, most of which are buses or larger dump trucks, sanitation packers, fire engines and other heavy-duty construction vehicles and equipment. Approximately 200 city vehicles are now using biodiesel. The Mayor said that “in addition to the cost savings from using biodiesel, significant environmental benefits are realized. Biofuel is a substantially cleaner burning fuel source that reduces automotive exhaust pollution, a major contributor to the midstate’s declining air quality over the past two decades. Plus its refining process involves minimal use of clean freshwater resources and produces no hazardous or toxic waste by-products or disposal concerns.” Another biofuel benefit is its reduction of the city’s dependence upon foreign fuels and the wild price fluctuations that have plagued the nation in recent years. Even the agricultural equipment used to produce the soybean crops can run on the biodiesel fuel. Reed said the city had $379,416 in diesel gasoline costs in 2005, for 205,547 gallons, and with the dramatic increases of this year, has so far spent $347,109 through September. The City budgeted $723,860 for diesel fuel purchases this year. Annual savings of over $10,000 could be realized during the initial years of the effort, with even greater benefits years from now. |
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