City of Santa Monica, CA

The City of Santa Monica converted to biodiesel in 2005. At that time, the city worked with Santa Monica-based LA BioFuel to establish a pilot program using B20. The program was a success and the city has since made a complete transition to cleaner-burning biodiesel in its municipal fleet. The fleet includes approximately 90 mostly off-road diesel equipment and vehicles.

The environmental attributes of this new fuel are especially significant for the city's beach maintenance crew, which relies on diesel fuel for its daily operations and for pressure-washers used to clean the streets and sidewalks of retail districts throughout the city. "This equipment is deployed seven days a week on our beaches and streets," says solid waste supervisor Wes Thompson. "This change is a huge step forward in making our operations more sustainable."

The move to biodiesel is part of Santa Monica's larger program promoting alternative fuel vehicles, an effort that has successfully transformed 87 percent of the city's fleet to clean fuel technologies. This program is playing an important role in protecting the public and vehicle operators from the damaging effects of diesel emissions.