USDA Will Use More Biodiesel, Ethanol

August 8, 2001

USDA agencies will use biodiesel and ethanol fuels in their fleet vehicles where practicable and reasonable in cost -- a new policy that officials say shows USDA's support for the National Energy Plan as well as improving our environmental air quality, the prosperity of the rural economy, and national energy independence.

"The energy challenges our nation faces today offers tremendous opportunities for agriculture," said Secretary Ann M. Veneman. "Agriculture can help us solve our energy problems through the production of domestic liquid fuels, such as ethanol and biodiesel. Renewable energy is good for independence, good for farmers, and good for the environment."

USDA will request (1) that all USDA diesel fuel storage tanks nationwide be filled with blends of 20% (B20) or higher biodiesel fuel where practicable and reasonable in costs; (2) that all USDA-maintained gasoline fueling facilities buy and use ethanol-blended fuels containing at least 10% domestically produced ethanol to the extent practicable, where the fuel is readily available, and reasonably priced compared with unleaded gasoline, and (3) that USDA's more than 700 E-85 flex-fuel vehiclesl use ethanol fuel where those vehicles operate in geographical areas that offer E-85 fueling stations.

USDA agencies will purchase or lease alternative fuel vehicles, including E-85 flex-fuel vehicles, for geographic areas that offer alternative fueling. USDA's Henry A. Wallace Agricultural Research Center (Beltsville Center) in Beltsville, MD, has demonstrated the feasibility of soy-oil based biodiesel as a transportation and heating fuel and uses it in all 150 of its diesel vehicles–everything from tractors to snowplows over the past two years.

In addition, the Beltsville Center will heat all of its buildings with biodiesel fuel next winter, including the 14-story National Agricultural Library in Beltsville. The decision was made as a result of last winter's successful experiment with heating a dozen buildings.

USDA has about 140 diesel fuel tanks on its properties nationwide. The tanks serve about 800 vehicles, including some boats. They also provide fuel for numerous chain saws, generators and other diesel-powered equipment. Over the past two years the U.S. Forest Service has used biodiesel in fifteen assorted bulldozers, road graders, and trucks located at the Black Hills National Forest in South Dakota. Other recent conversions to biodiesel fuels have been announced by the Maryland cities of Greenbelt, Takoma Park, and Ocean City.