Neste, Twin Rivers Unified School District Transform School Buses From Fossil Fuel To Fossil Free

Rhea-AI Summary

The Twin Rivers Unified School District in California successfully transitioned 75 diesel-powered school buses to renewable diesel, provided by Neste, achieving a fully fossil-free fleet. This change will result in an 80% reduction in lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions. The switch to Neste MY Renewable Diesel was cost-neutral for the district, promising superior performance and reduced maintenance costs. Neste aims for carbon-neutral production by 2035 and is exploring waste sourcing for further renewable diesel production, contributing to a sustainable circular economy.

Positive

• Transition to renewable diesel will reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by 80%.
• The change was cost-neutral for the Twin Rivers Unified School District.
• Superior performance and reduced maintenance costs expected with renewable diesel.
• Neste aims for carbon neutrality by 2035 and is researching new raw materials for greater greenhouse gas savings.

Negative

• None.

MCLELLAN PARK, Calif., Oct. 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Twin Rivers Unified School District near Sacramento achieved a major milestone in its climate action plan by switching 75 diesel-powered school buses to run on renewable diesel fuel provided by Neste. As a result, the district's fleet is now fully fossil free and one of the cleanest in the country. Because Neste MY Renewable Diesel is a drop-in fuel, Twin Rivers was able to achieve this remarkable milestone practically overnight.

"Yesterday, our fleet of diesel-powered school buses were contributing to air pollution and climate change," said Timothy Shannon, Twin Rivers USD director of transportation. "Now, they are helping fight these two big problems. All it took for us to start creating a healthier, more sustainable future for the children and communities served by Twin Rivers was to switch from fossil to renewable diesel – probably one of the easiest decisions we've ever had to make."

Twin Rivers USD, the 28^th largest school district in California with 26,000 students, has been on a journey to  "green" its school bus fleet. Last year, the school district started using electric buses. Now, by simply changing fuel types, Twin Rivers will realize an 80% reduction in lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions from its remaining fleet of diesel-powered buses.

Neste, its distributor Van De Pol Petroleum and Twin Rivers established a long-term contract to fuel all of the diesel-powered school buses with Neste MY Renewable Diesel. Importantly, switching to renewable diesel did not cost the school district – or tax payers – anything extra. Alongside the environmental benefits, Twin Rivers can also expect to see superior performance and reduced maintenance costs.

"Renewable diesel can not only accelerate the phase out of fossil fuels, it also enables us to create a circular economy," said Carrie Song, Neste's Vice President of Renewable Road Transport Americas. "Going forward, it would be great for Neste and Twin Rivers to take our partnership to the next level by using the school district's waste to produce the renewable diesel for its buses."

Under normal circumstances in California, more than 25,000 school buses bring millions of students to school each day. About 65% of these vehicles run on fossil diesel – contributing to climate change and potentially exposing children to toxic emissions.  Unique amongst low- and zero-emission solutions, renewable diesel fuel offers school districts a way to immediately, affordably and easily change this. In fact, simply switching the state's entire fleet of diesel-powered school buses to run on renewable diesel fuel could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 600 million pounds per year - the same climate benefits as building nearly 60 wind farms, planting 4.5 million trees, or keeping more than 26.5 million gallons of oil in the ground per year.

Neste's renewable diesel fuel is made from renewable and sustainably sourced waste materials – such as used cooking oil, rendered fats and grease. These wastes come from hotels, restaurants, sports stadiums and many other venues with industrial kitchens. By collecting and converting these wastes into renewable products, Neste is creating a closed loop system that can help accelerate society's transition away from fossil fuels.

To further enhance the environmental benefits of its renewable products, Neste has set an ambitious target to make its production operations carbon neutral by 2035. Additionally, Neste is researching and developing a new generation of raw materials which would allow for greater greenhouse gas savings - including municipal solid waste, forestry waste, and even converting power to liquids.  

For more information on Neste, visit Neste.com, and to learn more about how Neste MY can provide your fleet with immediate, lasting results, visit NesteMY.com.

About Neste Corporation
Neste Corporation (NESTE, Nasdaq Helsinki) creates sustainable solutions for transport, business, and consumer needs. Our wide range of renewable products enable our customers to reduce climate emissions. We are the world's largest producer of renewable diesel refined from waste and residues, introducing renewable solutions also to the aviation and plastics industries. We are also a technologically advanced refiner of high-quality oil products. We want to be a reliable partner with widely valued expertise, research, and sustainable operations. In 2018, Neste's revenue stood at EUR 14.9 billion. In 2019, Neste placed third on the Global 100 list of the most sustainable companies in the world. Read more at Neste.com or follow us on twitter and LinkedIn.

Media Contact
Theodore Rolfvondenbaumen
+1 832 799 7029
theodore.rolfvondenbaumen@neste.com

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SOURCE Neste

FAQ

What is the significance of Twin Rivers Unified School District switching to renewable diesel fuel on October 8, 2020?

The switch to renewable diesel fuel on October 8, 2020, allows Twin Rivers Unified School District to achieve a fully fossil-free fleet, greatly reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

How much will greenhouse gas emissions reduce with the switch to renewable diesel at Twin Rivers USD?

The switch will result in an 80% reduction in lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions from the school buses.

What are the expected benefits of using Neste MY Renewable Diesel for Twin Rivers USD?

Benefits include superior performance, reduced maintenance costs, and significant environmental advantages.

What are Neste's long-term sustainability goals?

Neste aims to achieve carbon neutrality in its production operations by 2035.

How does renewable diesel contribute to sustainability in California?

Switching to renewable diesel can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promoting a cleaner environment for communities.