SALISBURY -- Shore Transit riders go green later this month when fuel tanks on three buses joining the transportation authority fleet are fed a biodiesel and petroleum gas blend.

The switch comes as Maryland agencies and other vehicle operators turn to fuels made from soybeans or other vegetable byproducts as an alternative to the more toxic petroleum gasoline, much of which is made from imported oil. Cato Gas & Oil of Salisbury will distribute the fuel that blends 20 percent of soybean or vegetable oils with petroleum, said Latonya Franklin, a project specialist for the authority's Fixed Route Operations division.

Environmental benefits outweigh the increase in cost by a few cents per gallon for the blended product, Franklin said. The blend for Shore Transit costs about $2.81 a gallon, or about 2 cents more than traditional fuel that currently keeps the authority's fleet of 50 buses running, she said.

Fleet buses are equipped with 100-gallon fuel tanks and are filled on average twice a day, Franklin said.

"Biodiesel is a safer, more cost-effective fuel that offers better emissions and is less toxic," she said. "We intend to convert all new buses. It's more per gallon, but it is cleaner."

The new 30-foot passenger buses, which were unveiled Thursday for drivers, also are up to 10 feet shorter in length than other carriers in the public transportation fleet that serves the three Lower Shore counties, according to Riggin Johnson, director of Shore Transit's Fixed Route Operations.

The first of the new Champion-brand buses takes the road this week on the Orange Line, or Route 22, Johnson said in a statement. The route serves north Salisbury from Calvert Street to The Centre at Salisbury, Wal-Mart on Route 13 and the Northwood Industrial Park.

Other routes for a shorter, biodiesel-powered bus are:

A Pink Line bus serving Giant Food, the Fruitland Wal-Mart, Pine Bluff Village and other points south of will likely have a new 30-foot, biodiesel-powered bus by next week, Franklin said.

A soybean-fueled Route 11 bus will be on the road by the end of September to southern towns of Princess Anne, Pocomoke City, Berlin, and West Ocean City, she said.

Cato intends to have fuel for the transit fleet by Oct. 1, said a company official, Chris Mergner. Mergner also said other municipalities have expressed interest in using alternative fuel.

Over five years, Shore Transit plans to add an additional seven buses that also are shorter in length and fueled by biodiesel, Franklin said. With a shorter length, drivers can navigate more freely in heavily populated or congested areas, she said.

Charlottesville, VA – Greenlight Biofuels, Inc. has broken ground today on a 4.0 million gallon per year multi-feedstock biodiesel facility in Princess Anne, Maryland. This follows upon Greenlight’s recent purchase of a controlling interest in Baltimore Biodiesel, LLC, the developer of the project. Greenlight President Allen Cunningham remarked, “We are excited to be a part of an industry that contributes to environmental progress, national energy independence and local economic growth. This project is the first step in a broader strategy for Greenlight Biofuels.”

Greenlight Vice President Erik Lytikainen added, “This is an important day for Greenlight and the town of Princess Anne. Thanks to the help of community leaders, and together with first-class local partners, a new facility to produce renewable fuels will be coming online this year. This facility will bring new jobs to a high unemployment area, and will help support the agricultural community of the Eastern Shore.”

Greenlight Biofuels, Inc. was founded by Greenlight Capital Management, Inc. to develop, build, own & operate biofuel facilities in North America.

Greenlight Capital Management, Inc was formed by the principals of Greenlight Energy, Inc (GEI) following the $100 million sale of their wind energy company to BP Alternative Energy North America, Inc. At the time of the sale in 2006, GEI was one of the largest independent wind energy companies in the country with a 6,000 MW development pipeline comprised of large-scale wind energy projects in 15 states. By year-end 2007, over $700 million of wind energy facilities developed by GEI will be operational, including a $500 million facility in Colorado being completed this year by BP.

With an experienced management team and a strong track record in the renewable energy industry, Greenlight Biofuels is well-positioned to participate in the growth of the biofuels industry.