Clif Bar took another major step today in reducing the energy food company's impact on global warming, rolling out a fleet of eight new biodiesel-powered trucks for its field marketing team.

By converting its field marketing vehicles to biodiesel and eliminating the need for 8,000 gallons of gasoline each year, Clif Bar expects to reduce the fleet's CO2 emissions -- the major cause of global warming -- by about 40 percent, or 60,000 pounds of CO2.

"We're always looking for ways to reduce our ecological footprint -- it’s one of our bottom lines," said Clif Bar Owner and Founder Gary Erickson, who drives biodiesel-fueled vehicles for personal use. "We’re using as many organic ingredients as possible in our food, reducing waste in our packaging, 'greening’ our office space, and reducing our impact on global warming by helping build wind farms and planting trees. The use of biodiesel is another important step in our ongoing journey to operate a sustainable business."

The eight new Dodge Ram 2500 Turbo Diesel trucks will be driven by Clif Bar field marketing managers in Boston, Chicago, Colorado, Los Angeles, Northern California, the Northwest, San Diego/Arizona and Texas. All told, they travel more than 120,000 miles a year, bringing Clif products and environmental messages to thousands of people at sports, music, lifestyle and "green" events in their regions.

"Clif Bar has been researching alternative fuels for a few years now," said Bryan Cole, the company’s director of field experience. "Right now, its ease of adaptability and availability make biodiesel a great fuel choice for our field marketing team. While we recognize that biofuels are one just one step on our path towards sustainability, we hope we can inspire consumers and other companies to help protect the planet by sharing our experience and exploration of alternative fuels."

The marketing fleet is just the latest step in Clif Bar’s expanding use of biodiesel in the past year. In October 2006, the company switched to B100 biodiesel fuel to run the trucks that transport its products between its bakery and distribution center. In addition, Clif Bar now uses biodiesel to fuel the truck that transports its company-sponsored LUNA Chix professional women’s mountain bike team across the United States.

The company’s mobile marketing tours also operate on biodiesel and, in some instances, pure vegetable oil. This past winter, the Clif Bar Save Our Snow (SOS) Winter Roadtrip traveled throughout the Western United States and Canada in an RV fueled with 100 percent waste vegetable oil. The SOS tour shared information about the negative impact global warming is having on winter sports and recreation.

In December 2006, Clif Bar launched Cool Commute, the nation’s first incentive program to pay cash to employees who purchase clean-burning biodiesel cars. It also helps them buy high-mileage hybrids and offers a variety of rewards to those who leave their cars at home altogether. Since the program began, three employees have purchased cars that run on biodiesel and seven others have begun to drive hybrids.