The United Parcel Service began using biodiesel blends at its hub in Louisville, Ky., this month.


UPS recently installed a biodiesel fuel tank and fueling station at its Worldport facility. It will allow fueling operators to blend specified percentages of biodiesel on the fly, starting with 5 percent biodiesel, B5, and working up to 20 percent biodiesel, B20.

The 30,000-gallon biodiesel tank and station at Worldport fuels nearly 200 vehicles and diesel equipment, most of which help load packages on and off the planes.

"For a giant like UPS to use biodiesel is not only an outstanding vote of confidence for biodiesel, but an example of how America's first advanced biofuel will fuel the drive towards genuine corporate sustainability," said Joe Jobe, CEO of the National Biodiesel Board.

Biodiesel blends of up to 20 percent can be used in any diesel engine without modifications, says the NBB, and can reduce greenhouse gas production by up to 80 percent.

Worldport is the single most important point in all of UPS's global operation. The facility processes 416,000 packages per hours and is the size of 80 football fields. Worldport turns around 100 aircraft per day.