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Abstract
Biodiesel is a naturally grown, alternative fuel source. It's a cleaner burning fuel than traditional fossil fuels and therefore substantially reduces emissions of pollutants, such as air toxins and hydrocarbons. It also provides significant reductions in greenhouse gases that cause global warming. The Fargo-Moorhead Metropolitan Area Transit (MAT) has been using biodiesel mixed fuels in its buses since 2005. The Small Urban & Rural Transit Center (SURTC) examined the direct effect on the bus fleet of switching to biodiesel. Attributes such as fuel economy, ridership, and service records were analyzed. MAT and city officials were also interviewed to identify changes they have seen since the switch to biodiesel from both a bus fleet and public relations perspective.