PARTA is already using bio-based fuels according to their website: http://www.partaonline.org/pr081203a.html. Neither the city nor the university operate public transit systems, though. The university sold Campus Bus several years ago to PARTA.

Yes, but the City of Kent, the KCSD & the University all operate a fleet of vehicles that could be phased into either biodiesel or natural gas mode. A central filling station used by these public entities could also be used by local citizens seeking a similar conversion...which might even prompt some local private enterprises into selling same.

Ah OK; I was responding to your earlier mention of "for such public transportation" since I don't think anyone would classify the city's and university's fleets as "public transportation". :)

As for your later comment, a central filling station sounds great, but there are several reasons why it likely wouldn't work, the largest being "who would pay for it?" on top of logistical problems such a facility would create for PARTA, KSU, the city, and the schools.

I am glad the district was able to take advantage of this grant. Having the buses run a little cleaner is definitely a GOOD thing!

Sorry, Jon; poor wording on my part. I absolutely agree with you that any improvement in such emmisions is a good thing.

I was just wondering, grant monnies being what they are...the need for fuel being what it is...at the very least, couldn't the individual entities I mentioned(I forgot Portage County) all work toward the use of the more environment-friendly biofuel, especailly if they have their own refuelling stations? KSU's School of Technology cru, already responsible for creating an all-electric Ford Ranger pick-up truck, could handle the specifics of any retrofitting needed to current straight-diesel-fuel vehicles. An untold quantity of used fryer oil could be recycled from the various eateries around Kent. Folk in the area who already own diesel-powered vehicles could receive aid in retrofitting same and gain access to a local refueling station such as the one at KSU's CE&O on Summit Street or PARTA's(wherever it is located).

http://www.cleandieseldelivers.com/ABOUT%20US/Support%20Clean%20Diesel.aspx

It's a noble cause, but there are definitely logistical and financial problems that likely prevent this from happening. The biggest is simply cost. Even if some grants are available, it's doubtful there are any the could even cover half of the enormous cost to retrofit (and in some cases replace) engines in fleets of vehicles. None of the entitites in this area are in a position to afford this, even together (especially since they all get their money from the same source: the taxpayers). Add to that the "aid" you mentioned to private drivers who want help and you have an even more expensive project.
And while having public access to filling areas at PARTA, KSU, Kent, or the schools sounds nice and easy, it would create a logistical headache and additional security and maintenance costs for those entities. If it was something they wanted to do, they would already allow public access for the fuels currently available. They don't because they have the fueling areas there to increase efficiency for their fleets and decrease fuel costs by buying fuel in bulk and refueling on-site.
I am all for replacing older vehichles at the scheduled time with ones that are more fuel efficient and/or biofuel-capable or like here where the district got the grant to help the older buses. In other words, a gradual changeover within the budget. If grants can be acquired, great!

Ah...the clarion call, eh, JT?

From Wikipedia(groan!)..."It is often reported that Diesel designed his engine to run on peanut oil. Diesel stated in his published papers, "at the Paris Exhibition in 1900 (Exposition Universelle) there was shown by the Otto Company a small diesel engine, which, at the request of the French Government ran on Arachide (earth-nut or pea-nut) oil (see biodiesel), and worked so smoothly that only a few people were aware of it. The engine was constructed for using mineral oil, and was then worked on vegetable oil without any alterations being made... Diesel himself later conducted related tests and appeared supportive of the idea.[56]"

From the carbonfotprint web-site..."Biodiesel is a fuel that can be used in any diesel powered vehicle. It is biodegradable and non-toxic. Biodiesel is a fantastic way of reducing your carbon footprint as it only releases the carbon dioxide that the plants absorbed whilst growing, therefore there is no negative impact on the carbon cycle."..."What is a Carbon Offset?"...something akin to planting a tree...or a peanut...I'd guess.

Finally, we have the extensive knowledge gained through the thoughtful research of George Washington Carver re the lowly "goober".

Hey! I resemble that remark, JT!

In any case, there's no reason why you & others shouldn't benefit from an eco-freindly life style. Unfortunately, business interests being what they are, it's hard to find a "twofer" in anything of a national scale now-a-days. Diesel fuel is already treated as the "red-headed-step-child" by our auto industry. I don't have the specifics, but it's also a fine source of additional taxes/hidden inflation in our society given the fact that it bears a significantly higher tax burden than gasoline. Then, to top it off, you got the decentralization of power that "home-grown" biofuel represents. Forget the fact that we're ignoring yet another source of home-grown fuel self-sufficiency, eh?

Who knows why the "powers-that-be" have seen fit to establish different tax rates for the likes of such American staples as beer, wine or liquor, eh?(Keeps the lobyists off the unemployment rolls, I'd guess) Fortunately, they were wise enough to "allow" for a non-tax status for the home-brewed stuff with a limit on production for personal use, of course.

A fine example of home-grown, environmentaly friendly diversity at the local(corporate) level might be found here: http://www.greatlakesbrewing.com/sustainability/other-sustainability-projects

"We continually challenge the paradigm of ‘Take, Make, Waste’ to a more sustainable and common sense approach of ‘Take, Make, Remake.’ We try to replicate nature’s ‘zero waste’ cycle by turning our waste into viable products." Patrick Conway, GLBC Co-Owner...

...which results in such endeavors as: "ALTERNATIVE FUELS (STRAIGHT VEGETABLE OIL)
To help reduce our carbon footprint (well, tire tread), our beer delivery truck and “Fatty Wagon” shuttle bus run on straight vegetable oil - a renewable fuel made from our reclaimed and filtered restaurant oil."

Did I happen to mention my propensity for watching The Tonight Show & Carnac the Magnificent?

Thanks for that informative bit of news, JT.

The Five Guys Burgers joint at Chapel Hill Plaza promotes the idea that they use 100% peanut oil in their operation...I wonder what they do with the used oil? What does KSU Dining Services & all the eateries downtown do with their used cooking oil...pay to have it hauled away as trash? If the KSU School of Technology cru can convert a Ford Ranger pickup truck to run totally on electric IMAGINE what they could do as a demo project with biofuel?