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Overcoming economic and logistical challenges to using locally produced clean burning fuel (from recycled waste fats and oils) that can be potentially utilized by County facilities and vehicles.
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As manager of one of the largest bus fleets in the Pacific Northwest, King County consumes nearly 10 million gallons of diesel fuel per year. The County is participating in the Diesel Solutions Project to reduce harmful pollution through utilization of ultra low sulfur fuel (ULSD) long before regulatory mandates for diesel fuel begin in 2006. The County's Transportation Department is currently using ULSD in over 1400 buses and vans.
ULSD may be blended with biodiesel. Biodiesel is an alternative fuel that is made from renewable resources including cooking oils and mustard seed (which can be grown in Washington State). Potentially, the County could consume as much as 2 millions gallons of blended biodiesel a year. King County 's Metro bus fleet completed testing (December, 2003) a 20% biodiesel mix with petroleum based diesel.
King County staff is working with the Puget Sound Clean Air Coalition to identify additional potential sources of agricultural sources of biodiesel (such as mustard seed) from Eastern Washington.
BRED staff participated in a Biodiesel Summit at King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks along with 81 other stakeholders to map out strategies and next steps to promote and secure a reliable cost effective supply of biodiesel.
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- King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks
- King County Department of Transportation
- King County Cooperative Extension Service
- Puget Sound Clean Cities Coalition
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