Biodiesel coming to town
By ROBERT LINNEHAN
The Cherry Hill Sun
7/24/2009

Township representatives are continuing the trek toward going as green as possible, with a new program initiated to fuel some township vehicles with B20 biodiesel.

Representatives have stated this measure will greatly reduce Cherry Hill’s carbon footprint.

The municipality officially entered the state’s Biodiesel Fuel Program at last week’s council meeting.

Administered by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, the rebate program funds the incremental difference in cost between biodiesel and its traditional, all-petroleum counterpart.

“This type of fuel will significantly reduce the greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants associated with burning through petroleum diesel,” Mayor Bernie Platt said in a press release. “With the cost difference of this cleaner, greener alternative being made up through the BPU’s rebate program, we believe making the switch is a no-brainer.”

B20 fuel is an alternative fuel that contains 20 percent biodiesel – which commonly consists of soybeans or canola oil as its base – and 80 percent petroleum diesel fuel.

B20 fuel can generally be used in unmodified diesel engines, so the township’s fleet would not have to be modified.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, biodiesel blends such as B20 reduce the emission levels and toxicity of diesel exhaust, substantially lowering the output of hydrocarbons, sulfate and particulate matter, among other hazardous air pollutants.

The U.S. Department of Energy reports that biodiesel fuel has an excellent energy balance, containing 3.2 times the amount of energy it takes to produce.

The B20 biodiesel fuel will soon be powering 40 vehicles in the township’s fleet, officials said.

Communications Director Dan Keashen said while implementing this changeover in township trucks will not have an impact on service or even be detectable to the average observer; it will make a difference in the carbon footprint and air quality.

In other township news:

Members of council honored several Cherry Hill students for their participation and success at the National History Day competition at the University of Maryland last month.

President Steve Polansky issued two proclamations to honor Cherry Hill East and Rosa Middle School students for their success at the competition.

Five Cherry Hill East students - Matthew Bogdonoff, Brendon Rush, Jonathan Silverstone, Alex Swartz, and Jake Tuff – created a video documentary entitled, “Thomas Paine: The Action of One; The Legacy of Many.”

The documentary placed fifth in the nation in the category of Senior Group Documentary.

Thirteen students from Rosa Middle School represented the state in the competition after winning the local state competition earlier this year.

Rosa Middle School Adviser Christy Marrella was the adviser to the students.

Polansky presented the proclamations to the students in attendance and thanked them for a job well done in representing New Jersey and Cherry Hill.