Seacoast NRG

Having completed a successful pilot project to use B-20 biodiesel on select vehicles, the City of Portsmouth has, as of February 25th, switched its diesel-powered vehicles to run on B-20.

B-20 is a blended fuel of 20% biofuel–typically made from plant oils–and 80% standard diesel fuel.  The City’s Public Works Department started its pilot program in September of last year, using B-20 in its trash trucks, recycling trucks and street sweepers.  For the pilot program, the B-20 fuel was kept in a separate tank at the Public Works yard, while the main underground tank held standard diesel fuel for the remaining vehicles. 

The City’s Water and sewer division vehicles also adopted the B-20 fuel shortly thereafter, and all of the test vehicles continued to use B-20 through the winter months.

As of February 25th, the main underground fuel storage tank at the Public Works yard was converted to B-20, and all of the diesel-powered vehicles used by the Public Works Department, Fire and Police Departments, School Department and Portsmouth Housing Authority will now run on B-20.