Jan 16, 2008 6:31 pm US/Mountain
Safeway Converts Entire Truck Fleet To Biodiesel
Reporting
Paul Day
DENVER (CBS4) ―
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In Denver, it's not just the 360 Safeway trucks that are running on biodiesel, it's their trailers with refrigerator units as well.
CBS
The supermarket chain Safeway is winning praise for converting its entire truck fleet to a cleaner burning fuel.
Those attending Safeway's announcement in Denver Wednesday included Gov. Bill Ritter and Sen. Ken Salazar.
The company is switching over its entire nationwide fleet to a biodiesel blend.
Safeway says they want to find new ways to protect the environment and reduce pollution and they say they hope other major retailers will follow its lead. The environmentally friendly fuel costs a little more, but the company believes it's the right thing to do.
"I'm anxious to get it going in the fleet and see how it plays out for Denver," said Don Grambusch, director for the Denver distribution center.
Grambusch said they're using B20. It's a blend -- 20 percent biodiesel and 80 petroleum diesel. B20 is expected to have a cleaning effect on the engine, so Safeway is prepared to replace fuel filters.
"A clean engine is a more efficient engine and that's what we're looking forward to," Grambusch said.
Using biodiesel helps clean up Denver's air by reducing unhealthy pollutants.
"We looked for an opportunity where we could make a statement," Vice President of Safeway Public Affairs Kevin Herglotz said. "We could do something bold. We could hopefully set an example where other companies could follow suit we hope."
In Denver, it's not just the 360 Safeway trucks that are running on biodiesel, it's their trailers with refrigerator units as well.
Right now, Safeway's delivery trucks do well to get seven miles per gallon. The company's not sure if biodiesel will help gas mileage or hurt it.
Safeway claims converting its fleet will do away with 75 million tons of carbon emissions. That's the same as taking 7,400 cars off the road.
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