SANTA BARBARA, CA – Santa Barbara’s fleet of 150 city vehicles will run on diesel fuel blended with virgin soybean oil beginning July 1, according to KESQ TV. The B-20 blend will consist of 80-percent diesel and 20-percent soybean oil. Santa Barbara will become the first city in the county, and one of a handful in the state, to use biodiesel. The city will use biodiesel in its street sweepers, fire trucks, beach-cleaning tractors, and other large vehicles, the report said. Engines will not have to be altered to run on the fuel. The transition has been deemed cost-effective by the city’s fleet supervisor because diesel fuel costs have climbed to within 10 cents of biodiesel. The city spent about $130,000 on diesel fuel last year.