Complete Story
 

10/05/2006

COTA Unveils New Soy Biodiesel Messaging

Contact: Jamie Mossbarger
Communications Director
614-476-3100
jmossbarger@soyohio.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 5, 2006

COTA Unveils New Soy Biodiesel Messaging

Columbus, OH Today, the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) unveiled a new look to portions of its fleet with soy biodiesel messaging. The new design is part of an ongoing effort that demonstrates COTA's initiative to cleaning up central Ohio, lessening dependence on foreign oil and reducing fuel costs by using soy biodiesel. The messaging is sponsored by the Ohio Soybean Council (OSC) and Nexsol Biodiesel, the brand of soy biodiesel supplied by Ohio's largest production facility, Peter Cremer North America in Cincinnati, Ohio.

All 234 of COTA's buses are powered by soy biodiesel and currently run on a B50 blend (50 percent soy biodiesel and 50 percent petroleum). June through September, the fleet ran on a B90 blend, the highest blend used by a transit fleet in the U.S. COTA's estimated savings using the alternative fuel is $400,000 a year.

The new soy biodiesel messaging appears on 35 of COTA's buses. Educational placards highlighting the benefits of soy biodiesel exist in all 234 buses for passengers to read during their commute.

Using soy biodiesel is "really a unique thing," says Don Makarius, director of vehicle maintenance and engineering for COTA. "We have become a leader in the field by choice and didn't really realize it at the time."

Driving 10 million miles a year, COTA uses 2.2 million gallons of fuel annually with 1.2 million gallons being soy biodiesel.

"COTA's 15 million passengers are now breathing easier, thanks to soy biodiesel," says John Lumpe, OSC Executive Director. "This is such an exciting time to think that COTA is leading the way in helping to fuel Ohio's future with soy biodiesel."

Soy biodiesel, made from soybeans, a renewable resource grown in Ohio, is the state's leading alternative fuel and can be used in any diesel engine with no modifications. It burns cleaner, increases engine lubricity and reduces U.S. dependence on foreign oil. Ohio currently has over 150 soy biodiesel distributors and 50 retail locations.

Headquartered in Columbus, the Ohio Soybean Council is governed by a 18-member volunteer farmer board, which directs the Soybean Promotion and Research Program. The program's primary goal is to improve soybean profitability by targeting research and development projects through the investment of farmer-contributed funds.

###