Santa Monica

The City of Santa Monica has converted to biodiesel. With the help of Santa Monica-based LA BioFuel, the City has made the transition to this cleaner, more environmentally preferable fuel in 80 of its hardest working heavy-duty vehicles and equipment. The move is part of a larger program promoting alternatively fueled vehicles, an effort that has successfully transformed 70 percent of the fleet to clean-air fuel technologies. This is another important step in protecting the public and the operators from the damaging effects of diesel emissions.

Working with the city’s Environmental and Public Works department, including Rick Sikes, Wes Thompson, David Rodriguez, James Conway and Karl Bruskotter, LA BioFuel spent over a year helping to educate the city about the benefits of biodiesel, which is not only sustainable, but is made domestically, which helps reduce our dependence on foreign oil imports. “The leadership role Santa Monica has taken will demonstrate to other municipalities and the public that sustainable fuel is available now,” says LA BioFuel President, Joe Gershen. There is also a new Federal tax credit which effectively reduces the price of the fuel, making it cost competitive with its petroleum counterpart.

Though currently a pilot program, city managers are confident that the switch will eventually be made permanent. 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.”