SMYRNA, GA – The City of Smyrna plans to open a new biodiesel processing facility to provide fuel for its fleet vehicles in Janury. The biodiesel program’s goal, according to a news release from the City, is to reduce diesel consumption by 25% by 2020, and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the City’s fleet.

In addition to opening the plant, the City plans to convert its fleet from diesel to biodiesel as part of the program. The City said it will be using B20 in its fleet and will also make part of the fleet able to run on B100. The City intends to use cooking oil from local restaurants to produce the biodiesel and plans to allow local citizens to donate cooking oil (not grease).

The processing plant will have two 55-gallon biodiesel processors, and the City estimates it will be able to produce up to 26,400 gallons per year. From April 2008 to March 2009, the City of Smyrna consumed 95,618 gallons of diesel fuel, and at a maximum biodiesel production rate, the City expects to reduce diesel consumption by 27% per year. This fuel use reduction will save approximately $32,000 (at January 2010 rates), the City stated.

The City modeled its biodiesel program after another program implemented in the City of Hoover, Ala. City of Smyrna employees in the Department of Public Works will run the program, which includes overseeing construction and maintenance of the new processing area, assembling and operating the processing plants, collecting cooking oils, and producing biodiesel. The City stated it will use existing staff to run the program.

Another municipality that recently added a facility that converts waste from local residents and businesses to fleet fuel is the City of Naperville, Ill.