Biodiesel Stands up to Sub-Zero Temperatures

Cold Climate Users Report Biodiesel Success in Winter Months
from The National Biodiesel Board (press release):

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.– When snow falls at a rate of several inches per hour and all signs point to perfect weekend ski conditions, Jim Mersereau knows he has a lot riding on successful operation of his snow grooming equipment. Because thousands of skiers depend on him, he must be confident that his biodiesel-powered Bombardier groomers will operate on the coldest, darkest New Hampshire nights.

“We know that even with heavy snow falling and temperatures hovering around 20 below, we can count on our biodiesel-powered vehicles to start up and perform with no problems at all,” said Mersereau, Operations Director for New Hampshire’s Cranmore Mountain Resort. “We have been very pleased with biodiesel’s performance and have had absolutely no cold weather problems.”

In 2003, Cranmore Mountain, located in North Conway, NH, joined other ski resorts nationwide, such as Aspen, Colo., in fueling its snow grooming fleet with B20 (a blend of 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent petroleum diesel). A grant from the Granite State Clean Cities Coalition (GSCCC) helped Cranmore make the switch to B20 and install a 4,000-gallon above ground fuel storage tank. Since then, Cranmore has continued to use B20 in its equipment and is now using Bioheat fuel to heat its buildings as well.

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