CHICAGO -- The Chicago Park District’s new biodiesel production program is expected to provide 20,000 gallons of ASTM-certified biodiesel fuel this year to power nearly 300 of the district’s vehicles. 

The program, which uses old cooking oil from local restaurants as feedstock, is a public-private partnership with Darling International. Eventually, the program is expected to produce 50,000 gallons of biodiesel annually. A new biodiesel processing facility is managed and operated by Indigenous Energy, based on Oak Park, Ill.

A Department of Energy grant helped pay for the facility’s processing equipment. 

Kyle Powers, project manager at the district’s office of green initiatives, helped oversee the program’s launch.

To view a video about the program, click here.