Bridging the Biodiesel Gap:
From Boutique Fuel to Mainstream Alternative

What is “Bridging the Biodiesel Gap”?
The"biodiesel gap" refers to lack of information between quality fuel production and quality implementation of that fuel for the largest potential users of biodiesel fuel. Community Fuels, in collaboration with the City College of San Francisco, BioSolar, Peoples’ Fuel and the San Francisco Department of the Environment have successfully written and been awarded a 2007 $200,000 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grant to help bridge this "biodiesel gap".

The collaboration will promote the use of biodiesel fuel by developing a wide array of quality assurance protocols. This public-private partnership will draw expertise and resources from local and federal governments, academia, petroleum distributors and technical consultants. The project focuses on developing curriculum for fuel distributors as well as fleet operators, mechanics and drivers of trucking, municipal, construction and agricultural fleets. Eight pilot fleets will use biodiesel blends and their experience will be monitored. The results will be integrated into additional outreach and education efforts.

Holding a $200,000 check from the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency for biodiesel training at City College of San Francisco at a press conference held March 9, 2007 in the Automotive Department at the Evans Campus are (left to right) Ryan Lamberg, Vice President, Community Fuels; Phyllis McGuire, Associate Vice Chancellor, Office of Workforce and Economic Development, Evans Campus and School of Applied Science and Technology; Dr. Philip R. Day, Jr., Chancellor; Wayne Nastri, Regional Administrator, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Region 9; Jared Blumenfeld, Director, City and County of San Francisco Department of Environment; Dr. Randall von Wedel, Biosolar. Photo by Monica Davey

Specific objectives of the project include:

Designing and delivering implementation guidelines and training programs to stakeholders including fuel users, fuel distributors, mechanics and fleet managers;

Establishing high quality distribution services of biodiesel across a wide region;

Monitoring and reporting on use of biodiesel in on- and off-road private and public fleets with large spheres of influence in various industry segments; and

Providing biodiesel education and public outreach to reduce diesel pollutants in multicultural, low-income communities.

Why is this project important?
Although the biodiesel industry has rapidly expanded, there is still a need to demonstrate to fleets and distributors across the West Coast that commercial scale biodiesel implementation is possible. By increasing biodiesel distribution and by creating biodiesel curriculum, including measured and documented experiences of pilot fleets and distributors, this project will create a basis of understanding that will enable biodiesel to move from a boutique fuel to a mainstream alternative.

What are the estimated environmental benefits?
These municipal, agricultural, construction and general use fleets will replace more than six million gallons of petroleum with biodiesel and reduce diesel emissions by an estimated 100 tons per year. The reduced emissions will result in cleaner air, reduced asthma and other respiratory health problems around the Bay Area. On a larger scale, bringing biodiesel to the mainstream will be a step toward energy security and decreased dependence on petroleum.

How is this project funded?
Through EPA, the Collaborative is providing $200,000 in support of this project. In addition, in-kind services and fuel purchases will help provide $515,000 in leveraged support through the collaborative efforts of City College of San Francisco’s Advanced Transportation Technologies and Energy Center (ATTE), People’s Fuel Cooperative, BioSolar, Community Fuels, SF Environment, Royal Petroleum, San Francisco Petroleum, and a diverse group of pilot fleets representing target industry sectors.

Who are the partners on this project?
This biodiesel project will be administered as part of the City College of San Francisco’s Advanced Transportation Technologies and Energy Center (ATTE), and involves the region's leading biodiesel experts, including Community Fuels, Peoples’ Fuel and BioSolar. The biodiesel project team also includes the EJ program of San Francisco’s Department of the Environment, which is focusing on the air pollution in the Southeast area of the City. City College will share the biodiesel training curriculum with other ATTE centers throughout the State, through its network of community colleges.

What is the Collaborative?
The West Coast Collaborative is an ambitious partnership between leaders from federal, state, and local government, the private sector, and environmental groups committed to reducing diesel emissions along the West Coast. Partners come from all over Western North America, including California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, Hawaii, Canada and Mexico. The Collaborative is part of the National Clean Diesel Campaign (www.epa.gov/cleandiesel).

How can I find out more about the Collaborative?
For more information, please contact Peter Murchie (murchie.peter@epa.gov, 503-326-6554) or visit www.westcoastcollaborative.org. To learn more about biodiesel, visit www.epa.gov/region9/waste/biodiesel/index.html.

How can I find out more about the project?
To learn more about Bridging the Biodiesel Gap, please contact David Dias at (415) 550-4455 or ddias@ccsf.edu. A complete Bridging the Biodiesel Gap Fact Sheet can be downloaded here.

How can your fleet become involved?
You can contact us via email at mail to: info@communityfuels.com or by calling Community Fuels at (760) 942-9306.