New Biofuel Blends Likely Coming to Edina Public Works

The City of Edina constantly seeks new ways to protect the environment by lowering its carbon footprint.

In an effort to meet City climate goals that include reducing communitywide emissions by 45 percent below 2019 levels by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, a critical push to bring sustainable biodiesel to Public Works is underway.

Biodiesel is renewable fuel derived from sources such as vegetable oils, animal fats or recycled greases. Current technology allows for most diesel engines to run on 100 percent (B100) biofuels above 40 degrees Fahrenheit. The City is currently looking into purchasing B100 compatible heavy-duty trucks in addition to upgrading the Public Works & Park Maintenance Facility’s fueling station with brand new biodiesel tanks.

Equipment Operations Supervisor Richard Poppitz, also in charge of fuel management, said that the Public Works Department already has plans in place to increase the biofuel blend of their existing ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel from B5 (5 percent biofuel) to B20 this spring, with the hope of achieving higher blends during the summer months.

Poppitz points to a new partnership with MEG Corporation, a Minnesota-based diesel fuel additive company, as being the key to obtaining a B50 blend without having to retrofit vehicles to run on new fuel blends.

“We’re right at the beginning stage,” Poppitz said, describing the project which is still in early development.

Quotes to upgrade current infrastructure to B100 have already been sent to potential contractors, as have grant applications to subsidize the eco-friendly project. Federal grants such as the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) could offset the cost of building B100 technology, with smaller aid packages from private partners such as the American Soybean Association likely.

“There’s a whole lot going on right now. It’s a lot of meetings and grant applications, but I’m hopeful we can make this work,” Poppitz said.

If funded, a B100 project would likely take two to three years to fully implement. However, even upcoming short-term solutions are scientifically proven to reduce our overall greenhouse gas output.

For more information, contact Richard Poppitz at rpoppitz@EdinaMN.gov or 952-826-0306.