Oakhurst, Maine Standard Biofuels honored for emission reductions

Oakhurst and Maine Standard Biofuels announced Sept. 13 that they have received a Breathe Easy Leadership Honorable Mention Award from the Northeast Diesel Collaborative. The NEDC Breathe Easy Leadership Awards are given to organizations that have taken significant steps to reduce diesel emissions beyond what law in their locality requires and whose efforts best reflect the goals of the NEDC.

Oakhurst and Maine Standard Biofuels were selected because of their seven-year partnership in reducing diesel fuel emissions. Maine Standard Biofuels locally produces biodiesel from used restaurant kitchen oil and delivers it to Oakhurst as fuel for its fleet. In fact, this year alone Maine Standard Biofuels supplied Oakhurst with more than 120,000 gallons of biodiesel produced less than 10 miles away from the dairy’s processing facility. The result of the partnership has allowed Oakhurst to decrease its diesel fuel emissions up to 70 percent annually.

“It is an honor to be recognized for our fuel emission reduction efforts alongside our partner Maine Standard Biofuels,” said David Green, Oakhurst fleet and facilities manager. “Today it’s possible for trucking fleets to use biodiesel without having to make equipment modifications and the benefits are really significant. Not only are we able to reduce our overall fuel emissions—a positive for the environment and our community—but we are also able to decrease total fuel costs, a positive for our business bottom line.”

“Maine Standard Biofuels is honored to be recognized alongside Oakhurst by the NEDC for our combined efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” said Jarmin Kaltsas, president of Maine Standard Biofuels. “We believe that by working with customers like Oakhurst we can make a difference in the environment as well as the economy. We are proud to be working with a company that has the vision of making the world a better place to live in.”

Maine Clean Communities, a program of the Greater Portland Council of Governments, nominated the unique collaboration between the two companies for the award.

“We are pleased and proud that two of our stalwart stakeholders are being recognized for their collaboration and leadership,” said Steve Linnell, director of transportation and energy planning and Maine Clean Communities coordinator. “The local manufacture and use of clean, renewable motor fuel is beneficial on so many levels. In addition to air quality benefits, biodiesel reduces the need for imported petroleum and keeps fuel dollars in the local economy.”

The Northeast Diesel Collaborative was established in 2005 by the Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management, the U.S. EPA Regions 1 and 2, and the states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont. Through a coordinated regional initiative of public and private partners, the collaborative focuses on reducing diesel emissions and improving public health in the eight northeastern states.

Maine Standard Biofuels is a biodiesel manufacturer based in Portland, Maine.  MSB collects used cooking oil from more than 700 restaurants throughout New England. The cooking oil is then manufactured into high-quality biodiesel at its Portland facility and distributed in the greater Portland area as transportation fuel or heating oil.

Oakhurst is northern New England’s truly local brand that consumers trust for their milk. As the region’s largest independent, family-owned dairy company, the Bennett family has stood behind every glass of Oakhurst milk and dairy product for more than 90 years. Oakhurst is committed to the health and well being of the community and the environment in which it operates. Annually, Oakhurst contributes 10 percent of profits to local organizations through its Living Natural Goodness program to support healthy kids and a healthy environment—just another reason to choose Oakhurst, The Natural Goodness of Maine.