Taking its first baby step toward converting to biodeisel, the
Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District voted to start fueling
its buses with a blend of five percent biodiesel, 95 percent
petroleum diesel fuel starting May 1. Six months following its
February 13 vote, the board will consider upgrading to a 20/80
blend. Its decision will depend largely on a report from the City
of Santa Barbara, which since July of 2006 has been using the 20
percent biodiesel in its entire fleet of 150 vehicles, from street
sweepers to fire trucks. Unlike stronger blends, the five percent
and 20 percent blends can be used with few or no equipment
modifications. Biodiesel is less explosive than petroleum diesel,
which translates into reduced power, and it costs slightly more
than petroleum diesel. However, its use reduces greenhouse gases
and tailpipe emissions of lung-damaging particulate matter.
