Bloomington, Ill. – May 13, 2026 – Two Chicago suburban communities – the Village of River Forest and Village of Skokie – solidified their commitment to environmental sustainability by joining the B20 Club. As new members, River Forest and Skokie join other Illinois communities and organizations working toward cleaner air and more sustainable operations by fueling with B20 biodiesel.
Established in 2014, the B20 Club is a partnership between the Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) and American Lung Association that promotes use of B20 biodiesel, a readily available, low-carbon fuel solution.
“We applaud the villages of River Forest and Skokie for taking steps to help improve air quality and protect the environment by fueling with biodiesel,” said Bailey Arnold, Director of Healthy Air solutions for the American Lung Association and Program Director of Air Quality and Member Engagement for the B20 Club. “We look forward to partnering River Forest, Skokie, and other B20 Club members to continue to educate fleet operators on the benefits of biodiesel.”
Village of River Forest
The Village of River Forest began fueling municipal vehicles with B20 in the fall of 2024, after learning about the low-carbon fuel at a meeting of the Cross-Community Climate Collaborative, a regional initiative aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting sustainability in Cook County.
Now, B20 powers the Village’s entire diesel fleet, including dump trucks, snowplows, a front-end loader, fire apparatus and an ambulance.
“Biodiesel brings a positive impact to our community with very little extra effort. It’s an easy switch that helps reduce our carbon footprint,” said Jack Bielak, Village of River Forest Director of Public Works and Engineering.
The Village of River Forest relies on B20 biodiesel to fuel fire apparatus, ambulances, snowplows and dump trucks that serve the municipality.
Refuse haulers and other diesel-powered equipment in the Village of Skokie run on B20 biodiesel for more sustainable operations.
Impact of B20 Use
Use of B20 in communities like River Forest and Skokie has far-reaching impacts in Illinois.
“Expanded use of biodiesel in Illinois communities contributes directly to our bottom line,” said Illinois soybean farmer and ISA District Director Rob Shaffer. “Biodiesel not only supports farmers, but also creates jobs, lowers carbon emissions and reduces our reliance on foreign feedstocks.”
Other B20 Club Members
The two new B20 Club members join municipalities, utilities, trucking companies, marine fleets, fuel suppliers, and other organizations who have joined the B20 Club since 2014, leveraging the program’s recognition, technical support, and industry network to reduce emissions, improve performance, and demonstrate leadership in cleaner, more sustainable operations. For more information about biodiesel and the B20 Club, visit B20Club.org.
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About B20 Club of Illinois
The B20 Club of Illinois is a partnership between the Illinois Soybean Association checkoff program and the American Lung Association that works to advance the use of biodiesel blends of B20 and higher across the state. The program recognizes and supports fleets committed to cleaner, more sustainable operations, while also engaging fuel retailers, fuel marketers, producers, and other industry partners who play a critical role in the biodiesel supply chain. Through this collaborative effort, the B20 Club of Illinois helps improve air quality, strengthen local economies, and support Illinois farmers by promoting the use of renewable, domestically produced advanced biofuels. For more information about biodiesel and the B20 Club, visit B20Club.org.
About Illinois Soybean Association
The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) checkoff and membership programs represent more than 43,000 soybean farmers in Illinois. The checkoff funds market development, soybean production and government relations efforts, while the membership program, Illinois Soybean Growers (ISG) and the Illinois Soybean Growers PAC actively advocates for positive and impactful legislation for farmers at local, state and national levels. ISA upholds the interests of Illinois soybean farmers through promotion, advocacy, research and education with the vision of becoming a trusted partner of Illinois soybean farmers to ensure their profitability now and for future generations. For more information, visit the website www.ilsoy.org.
About American Lung Association
The American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease. The Lung Association’s Department of Healthy Air Solutions is a national team of environmental science, health, and sustainability professionals dedicated to advancing clean air and protecting lung health. The department leads grant-funded programs that address both indoor and outdoor air quality challenges across the United States, with a strong focus on clean transportation and healthy building solutions. Learn more at lung.org/clean-air.
MEDIA CONTACT
Betsy Osman
Illinois Soybean Association
betsy.osman@ilsoy.org
