Vancouver Island Bio-Diesel Evaluation Study (VIBES)
Type of initiative
FCM Green Municipal Fund - Plans, Studies, Pilots
Sector
Transportation
Project value$92,155
Project Type
Feasibility Study
Sub Sector
Fleet Management
Grant amount$45,311
Program type
GMF
Municipality
City of Victoria, BC
Status
Fully Disbursed
Population
91,867
Project timeline
2005 - 2011
Project number
7054
Description
Bio-diesel provides many benefits when compared to petro-diesel including up to 90 per cent reduction in lifecycle carbon dioxide emissions. This six-month field test will begin the development of a framework of a cost efficient means for fleets to migrate from petroleum based fuels to bio-based fuels. The City of Victoria and a group of local fleet operators that include municipal, provincial, federal and private fleets will monitor the usefulness of bio-diesel as a motor fuel and determine if there are any significant impediments to adopting bio-diesel as a component of the City’s long-term emission reduction strategies. Participating fleets have agreed to put time and effort into an extensive communications campaign, which will parallel the field test, in order to expand awareness for bio-diesel in other fleets and communities throughout the province. In addition, they will use the field test to produce a Handling and Use Guidelines Manual to assist other fleet managers to make informed decisions about the adoption and use of bio-diesel in their communities. A successful field test will be the catalyst for the location of a bio-diesel production plant on Vancouver Island.
Applicant
City of Victoria, BC