KUB

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KUBs Transition to 20 Percent Biodiesel (B20)

• Brooke A. Sinclair
• Knoxville Utilities Board
• Knoxville, TN

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Overview

• KUB Background
• Pilot Project
• Fleet Implementation
• Maintenance/Operations
• Fuel Specifications
• Air Quality

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KUB Background

• Electric, gas, water, and wastewater
• gt 400,000 customers
• 188,000 electric customers
• gt 1000 employees
• Technical Services Department

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KUB Background

• March 1996 Subject to Energy Policy Act (EPAct)
  Requirements
• April 2004 Knox County designated by
  Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as
  non-attainment area
• Currently 100 percent of fleet on various forms
  of alternative fuels

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KUB Background
Fuel Type Number of Vehicles
Gasoline (10 Ethanol) 155
85 Ethanol (E-85) 37
20 Biodiesel (B20) (Vehicles and Equipment) 299 16
Hybrid Electric 4
Electric Tiger Truck 1
Dedicated Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) 3
Dual Fuel CNG 57
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KUB Background

• Pilot Project December 2004February 2005
• Full Implementation June 2005
• EPAct Gain 1 credit per 450 gallons of 100
  percent biodiesel (B100) used (but no more than
  50 percent of the required credits)

2005 220,651 gallons
2006 384,388 gallons
2007 (as of 6/11/07) 186,565 gallons
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Pilot Project

• December 14, 2004February 23, 2005
• Ten vehicles
• Bucket trucks, backhoes, dump trucks, digger
  derrick trucks, and crew trucks

• Used 2726 gallons B20
• Surveyed users
• Interviews with other companies using B20 (e.g.,
  Knox Area Transit)

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Pilot ProjectTank Preparation

• 12,000-gallon underground storage tank (UST)
  installed 1989
• 12/6/04 Removed all existing product and sludge
• 12/8/04 Added 7500 gallons of diesel and a
  biocide
• 12/9/04 Added 3900 gallons of diesel (mixing)
• 12/9-13/04 Biocide treatment
• 12/13/04 Removed 5774 gallons diesel
  (transferred to other USTs) and added 1450
  gallons of B100

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Pilot ProjectReported Water

• 12/10/04-1/19/05 After biocide treatment,
  VeederRoot reported 1.5 inches of water
• Several episodes of sludge removal
• Testing with dipstick indicated no water
• Notified Tennessee Department of Environment and
  Conservation (TDEC)
• 1/17/05 Passed tank tightness test
• Caused by biochemical reaction with biocide

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Full Implementation

• June 2005
• Full fleet
• Generators, air compressors, off-road equipment
• Cleaned/treated tanks prior to transition
• Employee communications
• NewsNet
• Posters at fueling stations
• B20 Fact Sheet
• Bumper stickers

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KUBs Vehicles and Equipment
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Maintenance/Operations

• Increased fuel filter replacements for 68 months
• Employees appreciate the cleaner emissions
• No change to fuel efficiency
• Trouble with inconsistent fuel blends
• Bid process for a single B20 provider and better
  controlled specifications

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Fuel Specifications

• B20 Blend
• Diesel ASTM Standard D975
• Biodiesel ASTM Standard D6751
• Low Temperature Performance
• Cloud Point (ASTM D2500)
• Cold Filter Plugging Point (ASTM D6371)
• Only certified soy product
• NO chicken, beef, recycled grease, and/or palm oil

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Air Quality

• To date, KUBs use of B20 has displaced 157,721
  gallons of conventional diesel

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Questions?
Contact Brooke Sinclair at [phone] or at
BSinclair_at_kub.org