Orange County, Fla., Mayor Richard Crotty and country music star Michael Peterson helped kick off the National Biodiesel Conference Ride-and-Drive event with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and ceremonial first test drive. The event offered the public and conference attendees an opportunity to take the latest diesel vehicles for a spin on biodiesel.

During the event's opening remarks, Crotty reiterated the county's initiative to reduce petroleum fuel consumption by 20 percent within the next two years. Additionally, Crotty is supporting a proposal in which the county will fuel all of its bus fleet and county vehicles with B20. This will make Orange County a Florida Green Local Government.

"Orange County is here to help grow the biodiesel industry," Crotty said. "In 2005, I announced that we would reduce our petroleum usage by 20 percent in five years. The use of biodiesel is an important factor in helping us reach this goal."

Today's diesel vehicles are extremely fuel efficient and cleaner than ever. They typically get 20 percent to 40 percent more miles to the gallon than comparable gas-powered vehicles. Availability of ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel also allows manufacturers to engineer the cleanest diesel vehicles ever.

World Energy, a fuel supplier certified through BQ-9000, the industry's quality assurance program, was the official fuel supplier for the 2008 National Biodiesel Conference Ride-and-Drive. World Energy also provides biodiesel to local users like Universal Orlando Resort and Walt Disney World Resort.