light towers, security cameras and mes- sage boards take the cake. While they are often placed in remote


locations and can be hard to tie into grid power, they tend to have low, steady power demands, making them prime candidates for photovoltaic arrays (coupled with in- house batteries). For superintendents who are nervous about cloudy days, these units can also be hybridized with generators. Typical fuel savings have been ob-


served in the high 90% range, not to mention the added benefit of not needing to send a laborer around to turn the units on and off. In California, where the cost of fuel is high and there are around 300 days of sun per year, these units typically yield net savings.


4 Renewable Diesel


Chemically identical to petroleum- based diesel because of how it's produced, renewable diesel is accepted by most OEMs. Like biodiesel, renewable diesel (R99/ R100) is a biofuel made from biobased feedstocks. But unlike biodiesel, renew- able diesel is produced in a way that makes it chemically identical to petro- leum-based diesel, allowing it to meet ASTM D975 and EN 15940 standards. In fact, not only do most original


equipment manufacturers (OEMs) accept renewable diesel as a drop-in replacement for petroleum-based diesel, many OEMs prefer it due to it having fewer contami- nants and burning cleaner, which results in fewer maintenance calls. In California, the production of


renewable diesel subsidized to the point of price parity in most areas and is required for use in off-road equipment (CARB 2024 January Update). So while we can tout the benefits of no cost impact, cleaner air, and less vehicle maintenance all day long, the reality is … well, we need to be using it anyway.


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CALIFORNIA CONSTRUCTOR JULY/AUGUST 2025


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