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Iowa Soybean Promotion Board, National Biodiesel Board, honor Alcoa Davenport for Leadership in Soy Biodiesel Use
The Iowa Soybean Promotion Board and the National Biodiesel Board recently honored Alcoa Davenport Works with the first ever Outstanding Environmental Stewardship Award, in recognition of Alcoa's conversion from regular diesel products for the plant's fleet vehicles to soy biodiesel.
Alcoa's use of a B20 blend (20 percent soy biodiesel, 80 percent No. 2 diesel) is significantly improving the levels of exhaust fumes emitted within the plant. The change is a win-win for both Alcoa employees and Iowa farmers who hope additional manufacturing plants will adopt soy biodiesel use.
"As a U.S. farmer, I'm very pleased that Alcoa has gone the distance and is using soy biodiesel," said John Heisdorffer a Keota, Iowa, farmer, member of the Iowa Soybean Promotion Board and director of the National Biodiesel Board. "Soy biodiesel is a renewable fuel and it's non-toxic. I just don't know how you could do any better to help the environment and the farmers of America. Farmers invested over $3 million checkoff dollars in the development of soy biodiesel."
Heisdorffer went on to mention that given our current political climate, using soy biodiesel helps decrease U.S. dependency on foreign oil. "We need a renewable source of fuel here in the U.S.," he said. "By using soy-based fuels, we can increase the price of soybeans for U.S. farmers."
At Alcoa, the benefits of using soy biodiesel are a part of the company's commitment to high environmental standards. Dale Hupp, sr. staff mechanical engineer and Susan Leuthauser, plant hygienist, helped spearhead the effort to change to soy biodiesel, poring through information and researching its benefits.
"Alcoa's always had high values when it comes to environmental issues inside and outside the plant," explained Hupp. "The use of soy biodiesel has helped us reach and exceed our goals. On an average yield, Alcoa Davenport would use 100 acres of soybeans to fuel our vehicles."
Leuthauser said that Alcoa wanted to do whatever it could to reduce employee exposure to diesel exhaust. "When we made the switch, employees on the plant floor noticed that the air smelled much better. I have received many positive comments."
Tests have concluded that using the B20 blend has reduced the concentration of diesel exhaust particulate in high traffic areas by an impressive 80 percent. "We're excited about the results," said Leuthauser.
The Outstanding Environmental Stewardship Award was presented at Alcoa's 13th annual environmentalist's briefing on March 8th.
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