Biodiesel Use Helps Port of Seattle Exceed Government Standards

The Puget Sound area supports vehicles both on- and off-shore, and port officials comply with federal air quality standards. As part of the Sound, the Port of Seattle is also in compliance, but according to Port of Seattle Seaport Fleet Manager MaryAnn Lobdell, they are striving to achieve more.

One way they’re exceeding standards is by using biodiesel-powered fleet vehicles. “We and our partners in the maritime and transportation industries are working to remain in compliance, while continuing to provide economic benefits and protect the region’s environment and the health of its citizens,” Lobdell said. “Biodiesel is an important part of those efforts.”

Biodiesel Meets Diverse Needs
Currently, the Port of Seattle fleet uses biodiesel in 59 vehicles and pieces of equipment. Biodiesel fuels units as diverse as tractor-trailer rigs, smaller trucks, generators, lift equipment, and sweepers, with model-years ranging from 1961 to 2007.

Use of these vehicles also is diverse. Both on- and off-road in the field, the Seaport maintenance department uses the equipment to perform emergency and scheduled maintenance for the Port’s seaport properties, including container terminals, headquarters, the World Trade Center, parks, and marinas.

At the maintenance facility, fuel is dispensed from a 2,800-gallon underground storage tank. A 2,000-gallon fuel truck fuels off-site equipment.

Lobdell cites several advantages to using biodiesel, both locally and globally. As the percentage of biodiesel use increases, the environment benefits from fewer air emissions. Also, the U.S. benefits from decreased dependence on foreign oil. Biodiesel use supports the local economy, the agricultural community, and local biodiesel manufacturers.

Some Drawbacks to Use
During the warmer months of April through October, the port fleet uses B-99.When the Northwestern air turns cooler, it switches to a B-5 mix. Lobdell says in addition to finding a reliable fuel source that can keep up with consumer fuel demands, fuel gelling in cold weather is one of the few drawbacks to using B-99. “There are no drawbacks, however, to switching back and forth from different blends of biodiesel and/or low-sulfur diesel,” she said.

Even though making the switch is simple, Lobdell’s fleet takes precautions. “The shelf life for B-99 is approximately six months, so we monitor equipment that isn’t run on a consistent basis,” she said. “For example, we emptied the gen sets, which had not been used in some time and perhaps won’t be in the near future.As far as switching from B-99 to B-75, we called for a fill-up of B-50 when the tank was at 50-percent capacity.”

Although some may be wary of the biodiesel price, Lobdell says the Federal Biodiesel Tax Incentive played a significant role in the final decision to use the fuel.

At times, biodiesel is actually cheaper, depending on the season. “The price differential between biodiesel and regular diesel has been as high as 50 cents in favor of standard diesel, while last summer when diesel prices were higher, biodiesel was 50 cents lower,” Lobdell commented. “It is actually easier to budget for biodiesel since the cost to manufacture, the Federal Biodiesel Tax Incentive, and the distribution costs have remained rather stable, as opposed to the fluctuations we’ve seen in the past few years in diesel prices.”

Managers Advised to Plan Ahead
Lobdell offers the following advice for other fleets seeking to make the switch:

Prior to implementation, clean storage tanks, upgrade dispensing filters, and have replacement fuel filters on hand for all diesel equipment.

Get to know your manufacturer and distributor, and be sure they meet the latest standards for producing and storing biodiesel.

In addition to storing a supply of replacement filters, plan for extra manpower to inspect and change the filters during the first few months of implementation.

Make sure rental equipment vendors allow biodiesel in their equipment. “We found our vendors are already using various blends of biodiesel and had no concerns with us fueling their equipment,” Lobdell said. “These recommendations would apply even if a fleet plans to use a lower concentration of biodiesel to assure a smooth transition.”

Spreading The Word
Lobdell noted that, even with recent innovations, the Port isn’t standing still. “The Port of Seattle has encouraged others in our harbor to also use biodiesel blends. Two of our cargo container terminals run all their diesel equipment on biodiesel blends,” she said.

While the Port of Seattle reaps the benefits of using biodiesel, it is also committed to making environmental improvements in the greater Northwestern region and beyond. The Port is a member of the Seattle Climate Partnership, an alliance of local employers committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. “We are also working with air agencies and others in our region to achieve voluntary early reduction of diesel particulate emissions to minimize public health impacts,” Lobdell said.

But Lobdell and her colleagues didn’t stop there. In fact, their efforts extend to the entire continent. Recently, Barbara Cole, senior environmental program manager for the Port of Seattle, wrote an American Association of Port Authorities resolution adopted by the group. The resolution encourages other ports in North America to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. One strategy? Switching to alternative fuels, such as biodiesel.