| Biodiesel | Ethanol | Hydrogen/Natural Gas |

Fuel blends involve the blending of alternative fuels with conventional petroleum fuels or the blending of two alternative fuels. Blending fuels include biodiesel, ethanol, and hydrogen. Blends can range from relatively low levels of alternative fuels, such as a 2% blend of biodiesel with petroleum diesel, to a high percentage blend, such as 85% ethanol with conventional gasoline. 

At any level, fuel blends are an important option for reducing petroleum use and an important strategy in the Clean Cities Program portfolio.

Examples of blends include: E10 (10% ethanol/90% gasoline), B5 (5% biodiesel/95% petroleum diesel), and B2 (2% biodiesel/98% petroleum diesel). Blends can also consist of two types of alternative fuels, such as hydrogen and compressed natural gas (HCNG), which could be used as a combination of 20% hydrogen and 80% compressed natural gas, for example.

National Clean Cities Program strategies:
The National Clean Cities Program supports blending low levels of alternative fuels with conventional fuels as an important option for reducing petroleum consumption. Program strategies to promote fuel blends include:

• Training coordinators on the benefits of blends and teaching them how to determine which blends make sense locally or regionally.
• Encouraging coalitions to develop outreach plans to educate heavy-duty fleets about the fuel blend benefits.
• Working with state and local governments to explore opportunities to expand mandates and other programs for increasing fuel blend use.
• Forming partnerships to establish fuel standards for blends.

Clean Cities also plans to partner with the U.S. Department of Energy's Bioenergy Initiative to fill gaps in regional assessments of feedstock availability and identify opportunities for enhanced production.

Puget Sound Clean Cities Coalition strategies:
Program strategies to promote fuel blends include:

• Determining which blends make sense locally or regionally.
• Educating fleets and fuel providers about the fuel blend benefits.
• Working with state and local governments to explore opportunities for programs to increase fuel blend use.
• Establishing fuel standards for blends.
• Working to implement fuel blends within fleet operations and throughout regional or state fuel systems.
• Working with fuel refiners, blenders, suppliers and stations to create the fuels and provide them to fleets and the public.

Resources:

• The U.S. Department of Energy Clean Cities website provides additional information on fuel blends of biodiesel, ethanol and hydrogen/natural gas.
• The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Biomass Program develops technology for conversion of biomass (plant-derived material) to valuable fuels, chemicals, materials and power, so as to reduce dependence on foreign oil and foster growth of biorefineries.
• The Biomass Initiative is the multi-agency effort to coordinate and accelerate all Federal biobased products and bioenergy research and development.