BLOOMINGTON, Ill., July 9, 2019 — Breathing clean air shouldn’t be a luxury. That’s why partners across the Chicago area are joining in a special biodiesel education event to help ensure clean air is available for residents of Illinois.
On July 17, Chicago Area Clean Cities and the B20 Club will jointly host Truck Stop Coffee Talk: The Truth About Biodiesel in Bolingbrook, Illinois. This comprehensive program will dive into the health, environmental and performance advantages of biodiesel-blended fuels as an alternative to traditional diesel fuels. A renewable and cost-saving fuel, biodiesel releases fewer emissions of harmful pollutants, ultimately reducing the risk of asthma and other respiratory diseases. It also reduces greenhouse gases by up to 86 percent.
To learn more about biodiesel, attendees will gather July 17 at the Greater Chicago I-55 Truck Plaza in Bolingbrook, which offers biodiesel as a premium fuel blend. Registration is free and open to Chicago area fleet managers, fuel providers and sustainability directors.
Event sponsors are Chicago Area Clean Cities (CACC), the B20 Club and Greater Chicago I-55 Truck Plaza. CACC is a designated U.S. Department of Energy Clean Cities Coalition. The B20 Club is a partnership of the Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) and American Lung Association that recognizes Illinois fleets operating on biodiesel blends of B20 or greater.
“Chicago Area Clean Cities works with a variety of transportation industry leaders, government officials and community members to promote the use of domestic fuels like biodiesel,” says John Walton, chair of Chicago Area Clean Cities. “Alongside the B20 Club, we’re dedicated to implementing sustainable and more environmentally friendly fuels throughout Illinois, saving energy, saving money, promoting the use of domestic fuels, and providing Illinois residents with clean air.”
During the July 17 event, Chicago-area fleets will share their experiences using biodiesel blends of B20 (20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent diesel) or greater, including best practices for using biodiesel in temperatures as low as 20 below zero. The program features a panel discussion with the Chicago Park District, National Biodiesel Board and Optimus Technologies about a bi-fuel system that allows the Park District to operate two refuse haulers on 100 percent biodiesel year-round.
“Biodiesel is a renewable fuel made from soybeans. Since Illinois is the largest producer of soybeans in the United States, we’re excited to help bring this biodiesel educational program to the Chicago area,” says Rebecca Richardson, ISA biodiesel lead.
To learn more about biodiesel, visit biodieseladvantage.com.
The ISA checkoff and membership programs represent more than 43,000 soybean farmers in Illinois. The checkoff funds market development, soybean production and profitability research, issues management analysis, communications and education. Membership and advocacy efforts support Illinois soybean farmer interests in local areas, Springfield and Washington, D.C. through the Illinois Soybean Growers. ISA programs are designed to ensure Illinois soy is the highest quality, most dependable, sustainable and competitive in the global marketplace. For more information, visit www.ilsoy.org.
Chicago Area Clean Cities is one of nearly 100 coalitions across the country affiliated with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Cities program, which brings together stakeholders to increase the use of alternative fuel and advanced-vehicle technologies, reduce idling, and improve fuel economy and air quality. The coalition concentrates its efforts on educating businesses and municipalities in the six-county Chicago region, including Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will counties. To become involved, visit chicagocleancities.org.
For more information, contact:
Rachel Peabody
217-825-7654
Karen Potratz
262-563-5117
262-470-3709
Joe Koenig
708-613-5005