Newry, Mourne and Down District Council is to begin powering its fleet with biofuel to decrease its carbon footprint.
The move was agreed by the council’s sustainability and environment committee last week and comes as an attempt to meet the Vehicle Emissions Trading Schemes (VETS) requirements for all new vehicles to be zero-emission by 2035.
Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) has been approved for use on the council’s vehicle engines, and the transition will not entail vehicle or infrastructure modification as HVO can be blended with regular diesel.
According to the local authority, carbon emissions would be cut by nearly 2,500 tonnes per year if the fuel mix was implemented across the council’s fleet.
However, the decision is subject to formal approval by the full council in March.
At present, the council has one electric vehicle in its 195-asset, zero-emission fleet, with plans to acquire a further 17 zero-emission light fleet vehicles by the end of June.
It is also drafting proposals to ensure that by 2035, every small vehicle in its fleet under 3.5 tonnes is carbon neutral.
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Cllr Philip Campbell said: ‘Introducing biofuel and zero emission vehicles across the council fleet is part of our vision for a low-carbon, climate resilient future, protecting the area’s fragile environment.
‘The scale of the significant reduction in the council’s carbon footprint by introducing the biofuel mix cannot be underestimated. We are committed to integrating climate action and sustainability in all aspects of our operations and decision-making and policies. Introducing HVO is a critically important step on this journey.’
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