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The tragedy of Hurricane Katrina revealed several truths about our country’s preparedness for disasters, the gap between rich and poor, and the generosity of the American people. Secondarily, it brought home the fact that the country is much too reliant on gas for everyday activities. This reliance on gas has been a crucial topic for several years among grounds professionals and the country’s recent fuel shortage brought home the importance of alternative fuels as several PGMS members relayed stories of their mowing operations being completely shut down by state mandates to conserve fuel.

Alternative fuels are substantially non-petroleum and yield energy security and environmental benefits. The Department of Energy (DOE) currently recognizes the following as alternative fuels: methanol and denatured ethanol as alcohol fuels (alcohol mixtures that contain no less than 70% of the alcohol fuel), natural gas (compressed or liquefied), liquefied petroleum gas, hydrogen, coal-derived liquid fuels, fuels derived from biological materials, and electricity (including solar energy).

While a large number of grounds managers across the country are in the process of researching the possibility of using alternative fuels for their fleets, several PGMS members have been employing alternatives for several years. For instance, Joe Jackson, CGM of Duke University says the school’s grounds program has been utilizing compressed natural gas (CNG) since 1997. The University received $54,000 in 1998 from North Carolina’s Division of Air Quality Mobile Source Emission Reduction Grant program to purchase CNG vehicles and build a slow-fill CNG station.

Since that time, the program has expanded to include 20 CNG vehicles (19 bifuel trucks and vans and one Honda Civic GX). In addition, Duke spent more than $95,000 from its operating budget to construct a fast-fill CNG station in 2001. The University has procedures in place to insure that staff members understand how to fuel the CNG vehicles and boasts an 80% natural gas fill rate.

The major benefit has been reduced air emissions. The vehicles running on CNG are emitting 80% less combined carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides than if they were running on gasoline. Such environmental benefits fed the University’s desire to serve as a leader in environmental responsibility. CNG was a logical choice because it offers high environmental benefits and is already available on campus at a low cost.

Jim Jauron, maintenance supervisor at the Reno/Tahoe International Airport also has embraced alternative fuels, namely reformulated gas and B-5 biodiesel. This year he plans on making the move from B-5 to B-20 biodiesel. B-20 is a blend of 80% regular diesel fuel and 20% biodiesel

“Currently I have 161 pieces in our fleet with an additional 10 pieces of snow removal equipment being added this fiscal year,” said Jauron. “I am glad to say that all of my fleet qualifies as alternative fueled vehicles.”

For the past year Dennis Orenchick CGM’s fleet of 166 vehicles at Indiana State University have been using E-10 gasoline. He says the move has saved the university $10,000 - $12,000 in fuel costs as well as the added benefit of cleaner burning. PGMS President Chris Fay says that 33% of his fleet at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) uses alternative fuels.

However, switching to alternative fuels doesn’t just happen overnight and this change doesn’t occur solely because the organization’s grounds manager advises it. The organization’s senior management must embrace the concept for a successful transition.

Often outside groups serve a crucial role in acceptance by management. For example, Gerry Dobbs, CGM of Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest in Clermont, Ky. says that Kentucky Clean Fuels Coalition (KCFC) came to the Arboretum and gave a presentation concerning the use of alternative fuels.

After convincing management to make this change, KCFC even helped Bernheim receive a one-year grant to try the B-20 blend. This grant offset the extra-added costs of purchasing biodiesel over the purchase of regular diesel fuel. After using biodiesel for one year, Bernheim staff did notice significantly less particulate matter being emitted into the air. Bernheim continues to use biodiesel in its tractors, heavy equipment, and mowers even after the grant monies have been exhausted.

Jauron said that upper management and mechanics at the Reno/Tahoe International Airport were sent to conferences produced by the nation’s top fuel producers which explained the advantages of alternative fuels.

Many times there is little convincing to be done and the decision made by administrators to advance best management practices that are environmentally sound. This is especially true at universities, such as UNCG, which serve as trendsetters identifying cutting edge technology.

However, if you are reading this, don’t go out and make changes right away. There are several potential drawbacks to consider. First and perhaps most pressing is the cost. While organizations using B-20 or above qualify for alternative energy tax credits, such fuel still is priced higher than regular gas or diesel. Such increased costs vary by location. Located in Reno, Jauron said that the additional costs have been five to seven cents a gallon. However, Dwayne D’Ardenne, CGM of the City of Roanoke (Va.) Department of Public Works says that biodiesel is 1.5 times the cost of regular fuel in southwest Virginia and the demand/supply for other alternatives such as ethanol is virtually nonexistent.

Another major concern often raised is of the effect that alternative fuels may have on equipment and vehicles.

Fay said, “My main concern is how these fuels will affect the longevity of my equipment and fleet. Like most other grounds management professionals, if something breaks that is one less tool I have at my disposal. With budgets so tight for so many grounds programs, you just can’t afford to purchase extra equipment so everything we have is instrumental to day-to-day activities.”

Lezlee Johnson, director of landscape services at Northwest Missouri State University, has used biodiesel in the campus’ utility vehicles and mowers and reports experiencing degrading seals.

Steve Wood, test engineering manager at Toro, said that beginning in 2002 the company tested 20 different machines for up to 2,000 hours each using 100 percent biodiesel. Wood said that there was an increased deterioration of o-rings, seals, and fuel hoses.

Of even greater concern was premature plugging of fuel filters. Wood said that the green industry is currently devising solutions to these problems and would expect that in a couple of years new equipment will not be nearly as succeptible to these problems as it is currently. He also points out that his testing used 100 percent biodiesel and that those using lesser concentrates such as B-20 would probably experience a much more limited risk.

Another area of concern has been the loss of power, but Wood said that such loss of power (a seven percent loss in his testing) isn’t really noticeable.

While alternative fuels have some downsides, there are also plenty of advantages. As touched upon earlier, biodeisel and other alternatives reduce the amount of carbon monoxide, particulates, and unburned hydrocarbons to the atmosphere. There is no sulfur product associated with the composition of biodiesel. Therefore, there are no sulfur dioxide emissions.

Alternative fuels such as biodiesel also offers high lubricity for the engine’s moving parts. As Jauron pointed out, with the future requirements of Ultra Low Diesel going into effect in 2007, biodeisel adds additional lubricity that will be lost in the new diesel formulation. Additionally, no modifications to the engine need to be made to use biodiesel and other alternatives such as ethanol.

Biodiesel and many other alternative fuels are made from products found and grown in the United States. Using such alternatives means less reliance on foreign oil sources and a boost to the U.S. economy. For instance, Dobbs points out that economically, the production of Biodiesel has benefited Kentucky in a couple of ways. There is a biodiesel production plant in Cold Spring; Ky. and a new production plant is currently being built in western Kentucky.Also, the production of soybeans is rapidly becoming a crop of choice over tobacco, because soybeans are used in the production of Biodiesel.

Finally, it is something that makes your organization stand out. As Jauron puts it, “Whenever I am networking or talking with others and I tell them about our use of alternative fuels, the comment I hear is that it is nice to see a public agency making such a commitment to conservation and the environment.