Neste Empowers North Brunswick as First New Jersey Township to Transition to Renewable Diesel
- 03-Jul-2024 2:38 PM
- Journalist: Patrick Knight
Neste, a global leader in renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel production, has partnered with the Township of North Brunswick in New Jersey. This collaboration facilitates the transition of all diesel vehicles and equipment in North Brunswick to renewable diesel. As a result, North Brunswick becomes the first township in New Jersey to adopt renewable diesel for its fleet operations.
Carrie Song, Senior Vice President of Commercial Renewable Products at Neste, commented, "Renewable diesel is crucial for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from municipal fleets. Our collaboration with the Township of North Brunswick and fuel distributor KW Rastall Oil exemplifies how lower-emission solutions such as renewable diesel support municipalities in achieving their sustainability objectives."
In early May 2024, the township conducted its initial trial of transitioning from fossil diesel to renewable diesel. Neste MY Renewable Diesel™ was utilized during this trial in the Department of Public Works (DPW) trucks. Made from 100% renewable sources such as used cooking oil and animal fat waste, Neste MY Renewable Diesel helps achieve up to a 75% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions over its lifecycle compared to fossil diesel. Moreover, due to its compatibility with all diesel engines and comparable performance to fossil diesel, North Brunswick seamlessly adopted this fuel without requiring new fueling infrastructure or fleet modifications.
Currently, North Brunswick has transitioned its entire fleet of diesel-powered vehicles, including emergency medical services vehicles, fire trucks, public works vehicles, school buses, and backup generators, to Neste’s renewable diesel. Annually, these vehicles and equipment will consume over 48,000 gallons (141 tons) of renewable diesel, contributing to a potential reduction of up to 470 tons of greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil diesel. This reduction is equivalent to the annual direct emissions from more than 110 passenger vehicles, as calculated by the EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator.
Neste’s renewable diesel is supplied through Diesel Direct and KW Rastall Oil, prominent fuel service providers in New Jersey. In April 2024, KW Rastall Oil opened New Jersey's first public renewable diesel fueling station in North Brunswick. Mayor Francis Mac Womack and the Township Council of North Brunswick Township have all expressed their support for the shift to renewable diesel, emphasizing its beneficial impact on reducing the township’s carbon footprint.
Over the last ten years, Neste has supplied renewable diesel to more than 100 municipal customers, school districts, and local transit authorities across the U.S. West Coast, aiding in their efforts against climate change. Internationally, Neste has an annual production capacity of 1.9 billion gallons (5.5 million tons) of renewable products. As one of the pioneers in supplying renewable diesel to states like California and Oregon on the West Coast, Neste continues to expand its production, fueling station network, and distribution capabilities to meet increasing demand across the United States and worldwide.