The City and County of San Francisco has selected Neste's NEXBTL renewable diesel to replace petroleum-based diesel in the city's fleet vehicles. The fuel is produced from renewable raw materials including vegetable oils and animal waste and offers a chemical composition comparable to fossil fuel, according to the company.

NEXBTL renewable diesel is compatible with existing fuel distribution infrastructure and engines, and can be blended and distributed within the existing diesel infrastructure, according to Neste.

San Francisco currently operates 1,966 diesel powered vehicles, which will now use renewable diesel produced from plant or animal products or wastes. The city and county consume about 5.8 million gallons of diesel fuel a year. This change ends the use of petroleum diesel at the 53 city-run fueling facilities. The switch is expected to halve greenhouse gas emissions.

"These actions cannot wait," said Mayor Edwin M. Lee. "San Francisco has ended its use of petroleum diesel to fill up the City's fleet of vehicles and will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality for our residents immediately today."

Neste's renewable diesel is supplied to the City of San Francisco by Golden Gate Petroleum. Golden Gate Petroleum sells Neste product through distributor NeXgen Fuel.