Indiana organizations align to reduce carbon, promote clean air

As National Biodiesel Day approaches on March 18, the B20 Club of Indiana announces nine organizations have joined its efforts to promote cleaner air and a lower carbon footprint through use of B20 biodiesel fuel. The B20 Club of Indiana is a collaboration between the American Lung Association and the Indiana Soybean Alliance. It recognizes and supports Indiana fleets committed to using B20 and higher levels of biodiesel. Biodiesel is produced in Indiana using agricultural byproducts like soybean oil, animal tallow, and distillers corn oil from ethanol production. It provides measurable health and environmental benefits to Indiana communities. Associate members of the B20 Club support cleaner air through sales and marketing of B20 to Indiana-based customers. Four new associate members are:

• Casey’s General Stores, Ankeny, Iowa, dedicated to increasing biodiesel availability through its convenience stores in the Midwest with a distribution center in Terre Haute, Indiana

• CountryMark, Indianapolis, Indiana, providing bulk fuel delivery and operating more than 100 branded fuel stations, many of which offer biodiesel

• Louis Dreyfus Company, Claypool, Indiana, operating the largest fully integrated soybean processing and biodiesel plant in the U.S.

• Renewable Energy Group, Ralston, Iowa, the country’s largest biodiesel producer and an advocate for the biodiesel industry in Indiana and beyond.

Affiliated partners of the B20 Club of Indiana are nonprofit organizations, government agencies and other groups that recognize biodiesel as a high-quality, low-carbon and clean-burning alternative fuel source. Five new organizations join ALA and ISA as affiliated partners of the B20 Club:

• Greater Indiana Clean Cities, Fort Wayne and Indianapolis, Indiana, a nonprofit organization providing alternative fuels education and resources

• Indigenous Energy, Chicago, Illinois, a renewable energy consulting firm focused on biodiesel and alternative fuels

• MARC-IV Consulting, Kansas City, Missouri, developing and executing technical, regulatory, economic and policy aspects of biodiesel

• National Biodiesel Board, Jefferson City, Missouri, trade association promoting the biodiesel and renewable fuel industries

• Optimus Technologies, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, clean energy technology company offering a fuel conversion system so medium and heavy-duty diesel trucks can operate on 100 percent biodiesel.

“These new associate members and affiliated partners join with our existing fleet members in their commitment to reducing emissions, enhancing air quality and improving the overall health of Indiana communities,” said Bailey Arnold, senior manager of Clean Air Initiatives for the American Lung Association and program lead for the B20 Club of Indiana.

“It’s appropriate to welcome the new members as we plan to celebrate National Biodiesel Day, which is commemorated each year on March 18, the birthday of Rudolf Diesel, inventor of the diesel engine and the first to use renewable oils as fuel,” said Helena Jette, biofuels director for the Indiana Soybean Alliance.

Fleet members of the B20 Club of Indiana are Al Warren Oil Company, Altom Transport, Inc., Ball State University and the City of Fort Wayne. For more information about the B20 Club of Indiana visit B20clubIndiana.org.