Lawrenceville figures to save money with biodiesel | ajc.com

Lawrenceville figures to save money with biodiesel | ajc.com: "Lamar Hall didn't think biodiesel would do much except slow down the garbage trucks in Lawrenceville. The city's fleet superintendent went along for the ride, though, with a two-week test last month of biodiesel, a fuel made of renewable resources, such as vegetable oil. ABOUT BIODIESEL Q: What is biodiesel? A: It's an alternative fuel made from a renewable resource, such as corn, peanuts, soybeans or vegetable oil. Q: How does it work? A: Garbage trucks run on a blend consisting of 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent diesel. Q: What's the advantage? A: The city of Lawrenceville says that using biodiesel in its garbage trucks costs less and increased fuel efficiency."

Drivers said their engines had more power. The trucks ran cleaner, Hall said, and came back to the shop with more fuel in the tank.

"I was expecting the economy to go down and the trucks to be more sluggish," Hall said. But now, "I figure it's about 10 percent more efficient with biodiesel."

Now Lawrenceville's garbage trucks will use a biodiesel mix, a decision that Hall figures will save the city about $12,000 a year in lower fuel costs, increased fuel efficiency and lower maintenance costs.

Biodiesel is catching on elsewhere, too.

"We're seeing this quite a bit in school systems," said Jill Stuckey, director of alternative fuels at the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority.