9-16 IAN Bio-Diesel in St Louis

 Going green at an airport with farm produced bio-diesel…but not in Idaho. I’m David Sparks. Back in a minute. Coming of age in the green movement, in the use of alternative energy, in getting away from foreign oil…but it’s not happening at the Boise Airport. This is all taking place in The land of Budweiser. The St. Louis International Airport is one of several around the country that uses soy biodiesel in its airport fleet. Mike Bernich is Fleet Manager for the airport. He says they have been using a B-20 blend since 1987. They like that it has less noxious odors and all the added environmental benefits.

“There’s a major reduction in emissions just by going to as low a rate as B-20. Bio-diesel is a superior lubricity product, we have longer injector life, we have longer on our engine units that are running B-20 now. I haven’t had an engine failure in quite a few years.”

Bernich says every diesel engine in his fleet is currently running on the B-20 blend - including all fire and rescue equipment. Further, Bernich says being in an agricultural area in St. Louis - they are also proud to use a product grown and manufactured locally. Come on Boise Airport, we have a lot of growers out there.They can do corn, camelina seed, all kinds of things. So let’s make some money for local producers.