With an Eye Toward Cleaner Air and Lower Emissions, County Fire Department Switches to Renewable Diesel Fuel

SAN JOSE – The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors recently approved an agreement allowing the Santa Clara County Central Fire Protection District to switch much of its fleet from operating on traditional (i.e., petroleum-based) diesel to using renewable diesel.

“Renewable diesel is a better way to go,” said County Supervisor Joe Simitian, whose District Five includes the higher-risk wildland-urban interface (aka the WUI) stretching from Palo Alto in the north to San Jose’s Almaden Valley in the south. “It’s better for the environment, it’s better for our air quality, and it’s better for the health and safety of our firefighters and community.”

The idea for making this switch was first raised by Los Altos Hills resident Anand Ranganathan, a constituent of Simitian’s and member of the town’s Environmental Initiatives Committee, an advisory group that provides recommendations on environmental initiatives to the City Council.

The Committee began taking an inventory of the town’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2020 and developed a Climate Action Plan to reduce its emissions. According to Ranganathan, the diesel used by fire trucks contributes to more than a quarter of Los Altos Hills's municipal greenhouse gas footprint, but that switching to renewable diesel fuel could dramatically improve his community’s municipal footprint.

“I saw that a few big fire departments had switched to using renewable diesel fuel already, so it wasn’t going to be something that’s completely untested,” Ranganathan said. “Renewable diesel has become very popular as a way to cut greenhouse gas emissions. It seemed like a no-brainer to ask the fire department to switch.”

Ranganathan said he was pleased to see his idea materialize.

“It’s a reminder that if more people make local changes, then hopefully we can actually do something about climate change,” he said. “It’s going to take a lot of this kind of work, but we need to start somewhere.”

The County Fire District’s agreement with its fuel provider, Western States Oil Company, will provide bulk renewable diesel fuel through 2023. The switch to renewable diesel fuel is expected to contribute to the Central Fire Protection District’s goal of reducing its carbon footprint.

Renewable diesel works like petroleum-based diesel, but is made of nonpetroleum renewable and sustainable resources from a variety of organic material – including soybean oil, waste animal fat, waste fish fat, and used cooking oil. Renewable diesel burns cleaner than regular diesel. And it has been proven to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Renewable fuel is a relatively seamless alternative to conventional diesel fuel since it doesn’t require different storage needs, and vehicles can switch back and forth between the fuels based on availability. Renewable diesel also comes with fewer of the downsides that made biodiesel not a good fit for use in fire apparatus.

“Santa Clara County Fire Department takes its mission of protecting the environment seriously,” said David Snow, Director of Support Services for the Santa Clara County Fire Department. “Implementing this small change in the type of fuel we’re using significantly reduces the impact from both the manufacture and use of diesel fuel in our fire engines and fleet vehicles.” 

Involving constituents in the civic engagement process is not new to Simitian. During his time in the State Legislature, he introduced a “There Oughta Be A Law” contest, inviting constituents to send ideas for new laws. Simitian’s idea generated 21 pieces of real-world legislation that eventually became law.

“I’m grateful to Mr. Ranganathan for pointing out the obvious,” said Simitian. “Engaged constituents make our communities stronger. It would be foolish not to be receptive to good ideas from our residents. They care. They’re engaged. And they’re well-informed.”