B20 Club: Models of Success
Millions of individuals and fleets across the United States use biodiesel and biodiesel blends for efficient and economical diesel vehicle performance. Look to the members of the B20 Club for examples of biodiesel success in Illinois. A partnership between the Illinois Soybean Association checkoff program and the American Lung Association©, the B20 Club recognizes a select group of Illinois-based organizations with strong commitments to run fleets on biodiesel blends of 20 percent or greater. Since 2014, B20 Club members have consumed nearly 30 million gallons of B20 and higher biodiesel blends, contributing to cleaner air and more sustainable operations throughout Illinois.
For more information about becoming a B20 Club member, please contact Bailey Arnold at (217) 241-9011 or Bailey.Arnold@Lung.org.
B20 Club Members
These diverse Illinois-based organizations rely on B20 biodiesel and higher biodiesel blends to fuel their fleets.
Construction, Mokena, IL
“I would encourage any fleet-large or small-to consider using drop-in B20 biodiesel. It has been an easy and cost-effective way for us to reduce our emissions and protect the health of our employees, customers, and the communities we proudly serve.”
– Jeffrey Bonnema, Vice President of Fleet Management
Contact:
Jeffrey Bonnema, Vice President of Fleet Management
Address:
19001 Old Lagrange Rd.Mokena, IL 60448
Environmental, Chicago, IL
“We are proud to fuel our diesel fleet with cleaner-burning, renewable biodiesel blends in support of our mission to provide the highest quality of environmental services to the customers and communities we serve.”
– Scott Piszczor, Manager
Contact:
Scott Piszczor, Manager
Address:
4301 S Knox Ave,Chicago, IL 60632
Environmental, Bridgeview, IL
“Green Grease Environmental is proud to fuel our fleet of diesel vehicles with biodiesel blends in support of a healthy environment and the circular economy.”
– Tony Demma, Owner
Contact:
Tony Demma, Owner
Address:
8916 S Octavia, Ave.Bridgeview, IL 60455
Fuel Suppliers, Chicago, IL
“Our biofuel division continues to show more potential for the future. We are an approved biodiesel blender, and we sell about a million gallons of blended diesel every month. With a soy-based biodiesel being a solid choice by our customers, our company is proud to provide a green solution.”
– Tom Warren Jr., Vice President of Operations
Contact:
Scott Piszczor, Manager
Address:
4242 S Knox AveChicago, IL 60632
Gov. Entities And Utilities, Oakbrook Terrace, IL
“To provide cleaner, greener power to our fleet, Commonwealth Edison turned to B20 biodiesel and hybrid technology around 2014. Today we operate one of the largest private fleets of biodiesel vehicles in the U.S. and consume more than 1.2 million gallons of B20 annually. On top of that, alternative fuel vehicles now represent 70% of our total fleet.”
– Les Faul, Manager of Fleet Services
Contact:
Les Faul, Manager of Fleet Operations
Address:
3 Lincoln Center, 4th FloorOakbrook Terrace, IL 60181
Gov. Entities And Utilities, Wheaton, IL
“Biodiesel has been an integral way for the District to continue to efficiently operate while also reducing costs and emissions.”
– Drew Bergenthal, Fleet Specialist
“The switch to biodiesel was seamless, as there was no vehicle or engine modifications needed and the benefits we see in emission-reduction are huge. Biodiesel runs so smoothly in our engines – our mechanics didn’t even notice a difference.”
– Michael Webster, Manager of Fleet Services
Contacts:
Drew Bergenthal, Fleet Specialist
Michael Webster, Manager of Fleet Services
Address:
P.O. Box 5000Wheaton, IL 60189-5000
Gov. Entities And Utilities, Chicago, IL
“We made the move to clean-burning biodiesel fuel in 2011. It has been paying off from the start, helping us to reduce vehicle emissions and save fuel, as well as save thousands of dollars annually on the cost of fuel.”
– Michael Dimitroff, Department of Cultural & Natural Resources
“Indigenous Energy is a renewable fuels consulting firm that partners with stakeholders to advance the use of biodiesel. Since 2005, the company has been focused on tracking and reducing carbon emissions in existing medium and heavy-duty vehicles and equipment.”
– Pete Probst, Director of Research and Development, Indigenous Energy
Contacts:
Michael Dimitroff, Department of Cultural & Natural Resources
Pete Probst, President, Indigenous Energy
Address:
541 North Fairbanks CourtChicago, IL 60611
Mass Transit, Peoria, IL
“Operating our buses on B20 has proven to be a game-changer for the maintenance of our fleet. We have seen fewer injector failures and longer DPF life in our fleet because biodiesel burns cleaner, has a higher cetane value, and increases our fuel lubricity compared to petroleum diesel fuel. I highly recommend the continued and increased use of biodiesel blends for the longevity and performance of our fleet.”
– Steve Risch, General Foreman
Contact:
Mike Brockway, Director of Maintenance
Address:
2105 NE Jefferson AvePeoria, IL 61603
Mass Transit, Oak Brook, IL
“We strongly believe in the use of biodiesel because it provides an alternative fuel supply that is dependable and plentiful. Through our use of biodiesel, we are able to help farmers in our state by providing valuable markets for their products, while also reducing emissions, which is good for the students that we transport.”
– John Benish Jr., Chief Operating Officer
Contact:
John Benish Jr., President & Chief Operating Officer
Address:
2100 Clearwater Dr, Suite 250Oak Brook, IL 60523
Municipalities, Elmhurst, IL
“Using B20 in our fleet vehicles has been a simple, seamless way to improve the air in our community. B20 reduces greenhouse gases by up to 86 percent compared to petroleum diesel. The City hopes initiatives like this will inspire and inform others to make a similar commitment.”
– Chanel Caron, Fleet Manager
Contact:
Chanel Caron, Fleet Manager
Address:
985 S. Riverside Dr.Elmhurst, IL 60126
Municipalities, Moline, IL
“Our use of B20 supports our air quality and carbon reduction goals because it is a lower-carbon, cleaner burning fuel option that allows us to easily reduce our tailpipe and lifecycle emissions year-round, improving the quality of life for our residents while protecting the environment.”
– Sarah Mark, Fleet and Facilities Manager
Contact:
Sarah Mark, Fleet & Facilities Manager
Address:
3635 4th Ave.Moline, IL 61265
Municipalities, Arlington Heights, IL
As a means to reduce harmful emissions, the Public Works Department has been using B20 biodiesel fuel since 2007. Through the use of B20 all year long, the Village is making significant progress toward improving air quality by reducing soot, hydrocarbon, and carbon monoxide emission levels.”
– Ray Salisbury, Fleet Services Foreman
Contact:
Ray Salisbury, Fleet Services Foreman
Address:
222 North Ridge AvenueArlington Heights, IL 60005
Municipalities, Carol Stream, IL
“The use of alternative fuels and technologies, like B20 biodiesel, in our fleet achieves both our financial and environmental goals without impacting our operations or the essential services that we provide to the community.”
– Sam Barghi, Public Works Management Analyst
“Biodiesel has allowed our diesel vehicles and equipment to operate just as efficiently as they did on ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel while also reducing tailpipe emissions and lowering our carbon footprint at no additional cost.”
– Andrew Olsen, Garage Supervisor
Contact:
Sam Barghi, Public Works Management Analyst
Address:
500 N. Gary Ave.Carol Stream, IL 60188
Municipalities, Oak Park, IL
“Oak Park is always looking at ways of improving our environment and lowering our carbon footprint. Implementing B20 has been a simple solution for our fleet because no modifications or adjustments were necessary. All of our current diesel vehicles are running B20 year-round and any vehicles we add to the fleet will also be running B20.”
– Ken Crowley, Superintendent of Fleet Services
Contact:
Ken Crowley, CPFP, Superintendent of Fleet Services
Address:
210 South Blvd.Oak Park, IL 60302
Municipalities, Warrenville, IL
The City of Warrenville Public Works staff is dedicated to delivering quality, professional services to improve the community, and this includes exploring alternative fuel options to enhance fleet performance, while also being fiscally responsible with City resources, and mindful of the environment. In 2018, Warrenville and the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County (FPDDC) entered into an intergovernmental agreement to allow the City to utilize the FPDDC’s fueling facility. 15 vehicles consume biodiesel. The Public Works fleet covers a modest amount of miles with work relating more to a site and the city being only 5.5 square miles in size, and as a result, vehicles can have a longer life span in comparison to peers in the industry.
“One value of the City of Warrenville is to preserve and promote a clean, healthy, sustainable environment, and natural open spaces. The city explores a variety of ways to do this, which has included ways to improve fleet performance while lowering emissions. In 2014, a fleet vehicle was retrofitted from unleaded gasoline to compressed natural gas (CNG). In 2018, the City received an American Lung Association grant to install diesel particulate filters (DPFs), an emission control technology, on three trucks in the Public Works Fleet, which removes between 80 to 90% of diesel emissions on these vehicles. In the same year, the City also began using B20 fuel.”
“One value of the City of Warrenville is to preserve and promote a clean, healthy, sustainable environment, and natural open spaces. The city explores a variety of ways to do this, which has included ways to improve fleet performance while lowering emissions. In 2014, a fleet vehicle was retrofitted from unleaded gasoline to compressed natural gas (CNG). In 2018, the City received an American Lung Association grant to install diesel particulate filters (DPFs), an emission control technology, on three trucks in the Public Works Fleet, which removes between 80 to 90% of diesel emissions on these vehicles. In the same year, the City also began using B20 fuel.”
– Kristin Youngmeyer, Management Analyst
Contact:
Kristin Youngmeyer, Management Analyst
Address:
3S346 Mignin Dr,Warrenville, IL 60555
Gov. Entities And Utilities, Libertyville, IL
"We are proud to fuel our fleet of more than 70 diesel vehicles with B20 biodiesel in support of our commitment to delivering financially and environmentally responsible services that promote a safe, affordable, healthy, and resilient community for the residents and visitors of Lake County."
– Dan Javed, Fleet and Facilities Manager
Contact:
Dan Javed, Fleet & Facilities Manager
Address:
600 W Winchester Road,Libertyville, IL 60048
Construction
Environmental
Fuel Suppliers
Gov. Entities And Utilities
Mass Transit
Marine
Meet the Rest of the B20 Club
B20 Club Contacts
Bailey Arnold
Director, Clean Air Initiatives
AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION
Lead, B20 Club of Illinois
Bailey Arnold is an environmental science and sustainability professional with the American Lung Association©. Bailey is focused on the adoption of alternative fuels and technologies through the ALA’s award-winning Clean Air Choice© program. As B20 Club Lead for the Illinois Soybean Association checkoff program, he is responsible for all B20 Club support and outreach activities.
(217) 241-9011 | Bailey.Arnold@Lung.org
Tara Brooks
Specialist, Clean Air Initiatives
AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION
Associate Lead, B20 Club of Illinois
Tara is a public health and environmental science professional with the American Lung Association©. Tara primarily works on projects related to the implementation of alternative fuels and technologies. As the Associate Lead for the B20 Club of Illinois, Ms. Brooks is responsible for providing support services to B20 Club members, backers, affiliates, and associates at the direction of the Lead.