SAN DIEGO, Calif — French fries may not be the first thing you think of when it comes to your health, but if Buster Biofuels™ has its way, they will contribute to the health of the planet — one school bus at a time. Buster Biofuels has formed THE ALLIANCE with LEGOLAND™ California, the San Diego Padres and hundreds of restaurants, hotels and resorts to collect their grease and oil that get recycled into biodiesel fuel. Biodiesel is a renewable, non-toxic and biodegradable fuel that can power virtually any diesel engine.
Now that biofuel is helping to power school buses in the San Dieguito Union High School District (SDUHSD), emissions surrounding the youth are being reduced by as much as 78 percent when compared to petroleum diesel.
“Organizations like LEGOLAND and the Padres have a huge amount of oil and there is just no way they can use it all themselves (in the form of biofuel),” said Buster Halterman, CEO of Buster Biofuels. “The concept is to take that oil and recycle it into biodiesel then to reduce carbon emissions locally by putting the fuel into the busses of the San Dieguito Union High School District.”
SDHUSD is currently powering two buses with a 20 percent biofuel/80 percent petrodiesel (B20) blend and eventually plans to run its entire fleet on B20 biofuel blend. “We want to be at the forefront of green technology,” said Daniel Love, the director of transportation for SDUHSD. “It’s really exciting to work with Buster Biofuels and to know that we are some of the first ones making this change.”
More than just school buses, organizations around San Diego are finding new ways to use biodiesel to reduce their carbon footprint. LEGOLAND California is going to test the waters by powering their hot water power washers with biofuel, but plans to eventually upgrade other equipment in the Park. The San Diego Padres are considering implementing the same program.
“When we were first approached by Buster Biofuels, we saw it as a great opportunity to incorporate what they are doing into our green initiatives here at Petco Park. We are doing everything we can do to recycle, to reduce our carbon footprint, and to be more energy efficient,” said Padres Vice President of Ballpark Operations Mark Guglielmo.
“Biofuel is the wave of the future,” said Bryan Pastor, LEGOLAND California Support Services Manager. “Our long term goal here at LEGOLAND California is self-sustainability and working with Buster Biofuels is a huge step towards that goal.”
Burger Lounge, Wahoo’s Fish Taco, Hennessey’s Tavern, Oggi’s, Alphonso’s of La Jolla, Las Olas, Wavehouse, Urban Mo’s, Chronic Tacos, La Costa Resort & Spa and Sheraton Carlsbad Resort & Spa are just a few of the local restaurants and resorts that have joined the Buster Biofuels Alliance in an effort to help fuel the school buses and improve air quality in San Diego.
“It’s about asthma, it’s about emphysema and it’s about helping out the kids!” Said Jason Biddle, Chief Sales Officer at Buster Biofuels. “It’s about local companies helping local school buses via Buster Biofuels.”
Buster Biofuels was founded in 2009 by backyard biodiesel enthusiast and former professional skateboarder Buster Halterman, whose background also includes marketing, management and consulting in the action sports industry. Based in Escondido, California, the mission of Buster Biofuels is to initiate, establish and service green initiatives for restaurants and companies in San Diego County that will reduce carbon emissions in our own backyard.
