Lambert International Airport located in St. Louis, MO has three main parallel runways and one crosswind runway. There are over 3,970 acres of runways, taxiways, airline ramps, airline gate areas, public roadways and turf areas that are maintained by airport equipment primarily powered by B20 biodiesel.

"Lambert's Fleet in 2010 is composed of numerous alternative fueled vehicles, but ultimately the easiest conversion was switching our fuel supply to biodiesel," said Mike Bernich, Airport Fleet Manager, Lambert St. Louis International Airport. "We did not have to do any significant preparation or upgrades to presently owned equipment or newly purchased equipment."

The diesel fleet includes specialized airport fire fighting and rescue units, airport snow removal equipment, large 350kw+ emergency generator units, as well as medium size dump trucks, street sweepers, small diesel powered pickups, construction equipment, agricultural equipment, lawn and garden landscape type equipment, and miscellaneous units such as portable work light/generator units, runway closure X's, and others. The horsepower range on disel units ranges from under 10 HP to over 600 HP. The most recent additions to the fleet include two hybrid biodiesel-powered aerial man lifts. If it is made from diesel, it runs B20 at Lambert.

Bernich went on to say, "In the late 1980s, Lambert Fleet Maintenance was approached by a company called Soy-Gold and they wanted us to act as a test base for soy-based biodiesel. After testing the produt with various ratios, we decided that a 20% bio mixed with 80% diesel worked out fine for us. It could be treated just like standard diesel in the winter and all of the routine diesel additives worked 100%."

Lambert officially adopted the use of B20 in the mid 1990's and continues to use it today with great results and lower maintenance costs due to the superior lubricity of the bio-additive. Maintenance intervals have been extended over past maintenance practices resulting in manpower and material savings. Technicians greatly appreciate the fact that it produces a lower "soot" buildup in the fuel system and internal engine components. Injector and fuel pump life has greatly increased.

Lambert has been recognized numerous times for being a leader in the area of biodiesel an other alterantive fuel usage. "We strive to be a leader in this community to promote and use clean burning AMERICAN MADE fuels, said Bernich.

To view a PowerPoint Presentation about Lambert's use of biodiesel, click here.