Safeway has converted its fleet of more than 1,000 trucks to biodiesel, which the California-based grocery chain says equals removing almost 7,500 cars from the road annually.

Announced Jan. 18, the change is part of Safeway’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Initiative and its effort to manage its carbon footprint, address climate change and reduce air pollution.

Steve Burd, company CEO, and Calif. Lt. Gov. John Garamendi declared the conversion at Safeway’s “green” store in Dublin, Calif., which operates on solar and wind energy.

The company’s environmental programs include participation in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s SmartWay Transport Partnership for companies and organizations that commit to a baseline fleet fuel efficiency and a decrease in carbon emissions.

Safeway also is part of the EPA’s Grow & Go program, which promotes the benefits of renewable fuels.

Safeway buys enough wind energy annually to power 300 fuel stations and more than 50 of its 1,738 stores across North America.

Some cities have converted their entire fleets to biodiesel, including San Francisco, which completed the switch in November on its 1,500 diesel vehicles.