Green Mountain utilizes green fuel

Colchester, VT— The next time you pass a Green Mountain Power linetruck on the highway, you may notice a slight smell of French fries. That’s because Green Mountain Power’s fleet of linetrucks will begin using biodiesel fuel as a result of a new fuel arrangement with Champlain Oil Company.

Green Mountain Power introduced the clean-burning, organically-produced fuel to its more than 20 diesel engine trucks in the Chittenden and Addison County areas. The company plans to provide biodiesel to its trucks in its other service areas when it becomes available.

Green Mountain Power will use B20 biodiesel, a 20 percent blend of biomaterial and 80 percent conventional diesel. B20 biodiesel is the industry standard because it offers significant emission reductions at an affordable price and works with existing diesel engines. This fuel blend makes an immediate transition into cleaner fuel.

Champlain Oil Company will supply biodiesel for the University of Vermont from a pump at its main office in South Burlington. The fuel will be available for the public at a retail pump at the Jiffy Mart location at 1855 Shelburne Road.

Biodiesel is becoming an important alternative to conventional fuel. Vermont Biofuels Association estimates that 100 million gallons of biodiesel will be produced in the U.S. by the end of 2005.