“By 2030, we will continue our effort to achieve a reduction of our greenhouse gases by 40%”… President of the Meuse departmental council in Lorraine, Jérome Dumont (LR) has set the course.
The Lorraine rural community is the first in France to fuel its heavy vehicles with HVO (
Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil)
.
It is a hydrotreated vegetable oil, a synthetic fuel made from cooking or residual oils, animal fats or plant materials.
Above all, it has the advantage of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80% compared to diesel.
Greener… but also more expensive
It is therefore a real ecological issue undertaken by the Meuse department.
It will quickly result in a significant reduction in the carbon footprint of the 160,000 liters of diesel consumed until now by the 300 vehicles in the department's road fleet.
Everything, except a coincidence when we know that the Meuse is also at the forefront for photovoltaics and wind power production.
However, environmental protection has a cost: although less polluting, HVO costs significantly more.
Staff carefully monitor the price curve due to the financial impact.
Good news: in recent days, the gap with diesel has narrowed, going from 30 cents per liter to 15 cents.
“This will not cause us to deviate from our objectives,” assures Jérôme Dumont, who advocates “exemplarity” for his department through this reduction in the carbon footprint.