O2Diesel Corporation announced on November 17 that is has begun delivering its proprietary fuel, O2Diesel, to California-based E.J. Harrison & Sons, Inc. E.J. Harrison & Sons is the first major refuse truck fleet operation to begin the conversion to O2Diesel. The refuse fleet market segment is under pressure from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) regulations to reduce emissions. The yearlong two-phased program, which is funded under the terms of O2Diesel's subcontract with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), commenced with 14 trucks running on O2Diesel, with the bulk of the 120 vehicles being brought on in a few weeks. "The O2 Diesel team has been very meticulous in covering all the bases to make sure that our transition to the product is as seamless as possible for our operation," says Ed Lopez, Fleet Manager for E.J. Harrison & Sons, Inc. Harrison is pioneering the use of this fuel technology as part of O2Diesel's Diesel Emissions Control Strategy (DECS). This verification process will demonstrate the emissions benefits of its proprietary fuel combined with exhaust retrofit technologies, which achieves over 85 percent reductions in toxic particulate matter (PM) emissions. The DECS verification process is being negotiated with CARB officials, and will be completed early next year. Once obtained, regulated fleets like the refuse industry, urban buses, and government vehicles will have a lower-cost technology that provides emission reductions versus existing far more costly alternatives. In September 2003, O2Diesel, an ethanol-diesel blend, was verified by CARB as an "alternative diesel fuel," setting the stage for widespread adoption of the fuel for its emissions benefits. Working with its fuel supply partners, O2Diesel is terminal-blending the fuel to specification using the latest technology and delivering it to Harrison's fleet refueling location. O2Diesel is available not only in California but also in any fuel market using the existing diesel fuel storage, supply, and distribution network. The company's patented additive technology produces a stable ethanol-diesel blended fuel which when used in standard diesel engines results in a more complete combustion and emissions of fewer toxic and ozone-forming pollutants.