The OC just upped the ante when it comes to green cred in Metro Detroit: the county's entire road commission fleet will be running on biodiesel by year's end.
The move will reduce emissions, lower fuel costs and reduce maintenance costs.
"This is a win-win situation," said Brent Bair, the managing director of the Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC). "Not only are we helping the environment, but we’re doing so with a cost savings, and in a way that results in our trucks running better."
All 225 of its heavy-duty diesel vehicles -- including trucks, road graders and wheel loaders -- will be converted to run on an 80/20 mix of diesel and biofuel produced from agricultural products. This mix will save RCOC $30,000 a year in fuel costs and $20,000 in maintenance costs.
Why? Because the mix burns cleaner, preventative maintenance operations can be reduced in frequency.
So far, Oakland County stands alone locally, but it joins San Francisco as a leader in fleet greening -- the city's entire fleet of vehicles, from ambulances to street sweepers, also uses an 80/20 biodiesel mix.
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh
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