Santa Barbara city fleet goes biodiesel

Santa Barbara city fleet goes biodiesel

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. Santa Barbara's fleet of 150 city vehicles will run on diesel fuel blended with virgin soybean oil beginning July First.

The so-called "B-20" biodiesel will consist of 80 percent diesel and 20 percent soybean oil.

 

Santa Barbara will become the first city in the county and one of a handful in the state to use biodiesel.

 

The city will use biodiesel in its street sweepers, fire trucks, beach-cleaning tractors and other large vehicles.

 

Engines will not have to be altered to run on the fuel.

 

The city's fleet supervisor says the transition is cost-effective because diesel fuel costs have climbed to within ten cents of biodiesel.

 

He says the city spent about 130-thousand dollars on diesel fuel last year.