In an effort to reduce air pollution, the University of Wisconsin physical plant’s diesel-burning fleet of campus vehicles will be the first in Wisconsin to fill its tanks with a blend of ultra-low-sulfur diesel (ULSD) and a soybean-based biodiesel.
UW Chancellor John Wiley noted the initiative stays in line with the university’s goal to maintain high air quality.
“This new fuel mix will result in significant reductions in the emissions of a number of pollutants,” Wiley said in a release. “This is an important part of our commitment to achieve the best air quality possible.”
UW’s efforts will contribute to Gov. Jim Doyle’s initiative to increase biofuel production in an effort to reduce dependence on foreign oil as announced in his State of the State address last month.
“When it comes to our energy future, let’s rely on the Midwest — not the Mideast,” he said.
Doyle set a goal for at least 20 percent of energy used by the state to come from renewable resources by the year 2010. Homes and businesses should be using 10 percent renewable resources by 2015, he said.
UW also recently distributed 4,400 environmentally friendly gas cans to homeowners in the city of Madison and Dane County aiming to improve air quality.
Compared to regular diesel, ULSD costs about 40 cents more per gallon. Given the amount of ULSD usage next year, UW Senior Transportation Planner and member of the Dane County Clean Air Coalition Rob Kennedy said he thinks the price will be coming down and is definitely affordable, given the benefits.
Particulate matter exhausted from diesel-burning vehicles contributes to hazardous emissions and may aggravate asthma attacks, emphysema and other respiratory diseases and is especially problematic for early lung development in babies, according to Kennedy. Both biodiesel and ULSD will aid in reducing particulate matter, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons that contribute to ozone pollution.
“We are doing something that is really unusual,” Kennedy said. “I don’t think there is any other institution or person in the state who is putting together a mix of what is considered to be the two best alternative diesel fuels.”
Biodiesel is a non-toxic, biodegradable and cleaner-burning alternative to current petroleum-based diesel.
“[Biodiesel] actually comes up with a net reduction in the main global-warming gas, carbon dioxide, because plant material [is being used],” Kennedy said.
Kennedy said ULSD is efficient by itself, but the effects on air quality are not as significant as when it is used simultaneously with fuel filters. Kennedy explained if a truck has this type of filter while using ULSD, approximately 50 percent of particulate matter is reduced.
The Environmental Protection Agency will mandate ULSD’s usage by implementing a federal law in June 2006 whereby all diesel-burning vehicles must use ULSD.
“We are ahead of the game on [EPA regulations],” Kennedy said. “This is another reason that we want to go further and get the biodiesel.”
