The B20 Club of Indiana is excited to welcome two new fleets – the Muncie Indiana Transit System and Ozinga – to its exceptional lineup of members dedicated to promoting cleaner air and a lower carbon footprint through the use of B20 biodiesel fuel.
The Muncie Indiana Transit System, also known as MITS, is dedicated to providing reliable and sustainable transportation options for the residents, students and visitors of Muncie, Ind. MITS currently operates 33 full-size transit buses, all of which run on B20 biodiesel. For nearly a decade MITS has been using biodiesel with remarkable results.
“Biodiesel has had a positive impact on our fleets with no changes needed to facilitate the switch,” said Larry (Pete) Shields, director of maintenance for MITS. “We use it just like conventional diesel. B20 is here to stay at MITS.”
Ozinga – a fourth-generation family-owned business that provides bulk materials and concrete solutions – has proudly been using B20 biodiesel for five years. Ozinga uses 900,000 gallons of B20 annually to fuel more than 130 vehicles. Through their use of B20, Ozinga is providing an estimated $107,000 in health benefits annually.
“We’re always looking for cleaner fuels to use at Ozinga. Not only is biodiesel clean, but it’s also benefitting American farmers and it’s a great performing fuel,” said Jeff Bonnema, vice president of fleet management at Ozinga.
The B20 Club of Indiana is a collaboration between the American Lung Association (ALA) and the Indiana Soybean Alliance (ISA). It recognizes and supports Indiana fleets committed to using B20 and higher levels of biodiesel. Biodiesel is produced in Indiana using agricultural byproducts like soybean oil, animal tallow and distillers corn oil from ethanol production. It provides measurable health and environmental benefits to Indiana communities.
“We’re thrilled to see more Indiana-based fleets committing to B20,” said Jim Douglas, an ISA board member and a farmer from Flat Rock, Ind. “When fleets commit to biodiesel, they’re committing to improved community health and a cleaner future. From the farmer to the fleet, biodiesel is making a real difference in Indiana.”
“We’re very excited to welcome MITS and Ozinga to the B20 Club. Our members are committed to reducing emissions, enhancing air quality and improving the overall health of Indiana communities,” said Bailey Arnold, senior manager of Clean Air Initiatives for the American Lung Association and program lead for the B20 Club of Indiana. “We’re looking forward to working with these exceptional fleets to fuel a cleaner future.”
MITS and Ozinga join existing fleet members Al Warren Oil Company, Altom Transport, Inc., Ball State University and the City of Fort Wayne. To be a B20 Club member, fleets must be Indiana-based and use biodiesel blends of 20 percent or higher at least six months out of the year.
In addition to fleet members, the B20 Club of Indiana has seven affiliated partners – non-profit organizations, government agencies and other groups who recognize biodiesel as a high-quality, low-carbon and clean-burning alternative fuel source – and four associate members who support cleaner air through sales and marketing of B20 to Indiana-based customers.
For more information about the B20 Club of Indiana’s members, visit b20clubindiana.org/members
