Why did the chicken cross the road?

To fuel University buses.

The University switched its entire fleet of buses to using eco-friendly biodiesel made from chicken fat this month.

The 47 buses now use a blend of 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent petroleum diesel called B20.

It’s usually made from animal fats, recycled restaurant greases and vegetable oil.

“Biodiesel is good for the environment and good for the economy, and we’re glad to be using it,” said Ron Hamlin, University campus transit system manager, in a news release. “It burns cleaner than petroleum diesel, and the biodiesel we’re using comes from Georgia and benefits the state’s economy.”

The switch to biodiesel follows a successful spring 2006 pilot program in which the University ran a bus on a biodiesel blend.

Fuel prices fluctuate, but biodiesel is about 15 cents cheaper than petroleum diesel.

- University News Service