Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority’s Metro bus service in Cincinnati  estimates that the use of biodiesel saved almost $450,000 in 2006. The transit system intends to continue its use of biodiesel in 2007.

About half of Metro’s total fuel was biodiesel made locally from Ohio soybeans.  In all, Metro used almost 1.8 million gallons of biodiesel, up a third over its original projection of 1.3 million gallons.  Metro’s 390 buses use about 3.6 million gallons of fuel total per year.

During warm weather months, Metro fueled all buses with a blend of up to 75 percent biodiesel/25 percent regular diesel and switched back to a more conservative 20 percent biodiesel blend in colder months when the fuel can gel.

Biodiesel has a positive impact not just on the environment and Metro’s budget, but also on the economy of the