Currents

An Energy Newsletter for Local Governments

Berkeley Using Biodiesel

In an effort to reduce both air pollution and America's dependence on imported oil, the Berkeley Ecology Center's entire fleet of recycling trucks is running 100% on biodiesel. The alternative fuel, which comes from used, discarded grease from the restaurants and doughnut shops located in Berkeley, is now being considered for the City's public works fleet which currently runs on a mixture that includes 20% biodiesel. That move would make Berkeley the first in the country to run its trucks wholly on vegetable oil. While biodiesel is nearly double the cost of petroleum-based diesel, prices are beginning to fall. It is also a less polluting fuel source than regular diesel.

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