Improving Air Quality with Biodiesel Use
by Willie Vogt (Farm Progress) A new report from Clean Fuels Alliance America shows biodiesel and renewable diesel provide a significant environmental benefit. — Renewable fuels offer a range of carbon and greenhouse gas reduction benefits. But it turns out biodiesel and renewable diesel offer an added benefit when used in place of conventional diesel: the fuels reduce particulate matter.
That fact has been known for some time. Even older diesel engines burning bio-based diesel forms can cut their particulate matter emissions considerably. And the fuel has a benefit when used for home heating oil too. A new study commissioned by the Clean Fuels Alliance America shows the urban impact of cutting particulate emissions.
Using accepted standards for environmental and air quality monitoring, the study looked at what could happen if conventional diesel was replaced by a biobased product. The results show some significant impacts, from reducing the incidents of asthma attacks to cutting hospital stays to preventing deaths caused by particulate matter.
Floyd Vergara, director of state governmental affairs at Clean Fuels America Alliance, discusses the report explaining the results and sharing the potential for this renewable fuel to make significant inroads in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and providing added environmental benefits. He even offers tips for farmers in helping tell this story.