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LENEXA, Kan. – John Deere today announced this week that it plans to use B2, a blend of 2-percent biodiesel fuel, as the preferred factory-fill in diesel-propelled machines made in the United States.
“This is a big step forward in confirming our commitment for the use of biodiesel fuel,” says Don Borgman, manager market planning and customer integration, John Deere Ag Marketing Center. “Our manufacturing plants in the U.S. will use B2 biodiesel for fueling tractors, combines, self-propelled sprayers, and other diesel powered machines.”
Biodiesel is a clean burning alternative fuel produced from domestic renewable resources, like soybean oil. It contains no petroleum but can be blended at any level with petroleum diesel to create a biodiesel blend. B2 fuel is a blend of 2 percent biodiesel with 98 percent petroleum diesel.
“Working with the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) we are promoting the use of B2 fuel because it is readily available and meets the high quality fuel standards that we have set for our engines, and it is a positive step toward adoption of renewable fuels,” says Borgman. “If B2 were used in all diesel engines in the country, the United States could displace the equivalent of about 1 billion gallons of foreign oil per year. That could, in turn, translate to some very significant increases in the demand for crops from which biodiesel is made, like soybeans and other natural fats and oils grown right here in the United States.”
“There will be a transitional stage before all machines have the B2 fuel,” explains John Gordon, manager, engine technology and test lab operations, John Deere Power Systems. “Our tractor assembly plant, Waterloo Works, in Waterloo, Iowa, and our combine manufacturing plant, Harvester Works, in East Moline, Ill., will begin using the B2 fuel by March 1, 2005. All agricultural tractors and combines will be shipped with the B2 biodiesel fuel to dealers and customers direct from the factory.
“The other factories will begin using B2 before the end of the year,” Gordon continues. “We will publicize our fuel specs and actively encourage our customers to use the B2 formula in their own operations.”
“We are extremely pleased to see that John Deere is making the commitment to use this environmentally-friendly fuel,” says Darryl Brinkmann, Chairman of the National Biodiesel Board and a Carlyle, Ill., soybean grower. “It is a positive step towards bringing more biodiesel to the marketplace. It is simple to use, biodegradable, nontoxic, and essentially free of sulfur and aromatics. Owners of diesel-powered equipment can truly benefit from using this fuel, which also promotes domestic energy security.”
Currently, the B2 biodiesel fuel will be used in John Deere agricultural and construction equipment. The company hopes to expand its use into the commercial and consumer markets at a later date. For more information check out the Press Center/News or the Environment and Safety section of our Web site at www.JohnDeere.com or visit the NBB Web site at www.biodiesel.org.