Thanks to a recent announcement by the City of Birmingham, many could say that we can start breathing easier in the Magic City. Mayor Kincaid held a news conference at the city’s downtown fueling station yesterday to announce that the city had signed a $5 million contract with Allied Energy of Birmingham to provide biodiesel fuel for all city vehicles currently using diesel. Both NBC 13 and the Birmingham Business Jorunal filed reports yesterday. The new biodiesel blend would include 20% soy bean, canola oil, rapeseed and poultry fat.

According to city officials, there would not be an increase in costs to run the city’s 600+ utility vehicles. The city views the changeover as a first step towards attracting additional industry to the region, creating jobs for locals. The timing of this move is ironic, since just last week Birmingham once again made the list of the worst polluted cities in the country per the American Lung Association at #4.