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Wisconsin farmers benefit from biodiesel partnership

A Wisconsin soybean leader says a partnership to use more biodiesel in the City of Madison is good for farmers and the environment. 

Steve Trzebatowski is the immediate past President of the Wisconsin Soybean Board.  He tells Brownfield fifteen heavy-duty vehicles and two maintenance machines were converted to run on 100% biodiesel year-round. “It’s a pilot program. They’re using it now. They’ve had it for a couple of years and there are things they are working on with it, but it’s all positive that it’s going well.”

The city estimates a reduction in carbon emissions of nearly six million pounds since 2018, and research shows using biodiesel over petroleum-based diesel fuel reduces hydrocarbon emissions by 67%.

Trzebatowski says the technology is there, and other companies and communities can do what Madison did. “Reach out to Wisconsin Soybean Association. We can direct them in the right direction and then show them what studies we’ve done on that and where to go.”

Trzebatowski says biodiesel is a winning soybean checkoff story.  Each year, 25 million gallons of biodiesel is produced by plants in DeForest and Mauston, Wisconsin.

Trzebatowski spoke to Brownfield during the recent Wisconsin Corn-Soy-Pork Expo in Wisconsin Dells.