Company helps Calif. district ‘green’ fleet with biodiesel
Buster Biofuels partners with Legoland California, the San Diego Padres and other entities to collect their grease and oil, recycling it into biodiesel to power San Dieguito Union High School District buses. The district is currently powering two buses with a B20 biodiesel blend and plans to eventually run its entire fleet on the fuel.
ESCONDIDO, Calif. — Buster Biofuels has partnered with several entities in San Diego County to collect their grease and oil, recycling it into biodiesel fuel to power San Dieguito Union High School District buses.
Buster Biofuels was founded in 2009, and its mission is to initiate, establish and service green initiatives for restaurants and companies in the county that will reduce carbon emissions. The company partnered with Legoland California, the San Diego Padres and hundreds of restaurants, hotels and resorts in the area for this effort at the Encinitas, Calif.-based school district.
"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 buses of the San Dieguito Union High School District."
San Dieguito Union High School District is currently powering two buses with a 20-percent biofuel/80-percent petrodiesel (B20) blend and plans to eventually run its entire fleet on B20.
"We want to be at the forefront of green technology," said Daniel Love, the director of transportation for the district. "It's really exciting to work with Buster Biofuels and to know that we are some of the first ones making this change."
Burger Lounge, Wahoo's Fish Taco, Hennessey's Tavern, Oggi's, Alphonso's of La Jolla, Calif., Las Olas, Wavehouse, Urban Mo's, Chronic Tacos, La Costa Resort & Spa, and Sheraton Carlsbad Resort & Spa are a few of the local restaurants and resorts that have joined the Buster Biofuels alliance to help fuel the school buses and improve air quality in San Diego.
More Alternative Fuels

Bipartisan Bill Seeks to Extend Clean School Bus Program Through 2031
The proposed legislation would renew federal support for cleaner school buses as districts navigate funding uncertainty, rising fuel and infrastructure costs, and fleet replacement needs.
Read More →
Alt-Fuel Moves: Electric Bus Rollouts, Bidirectional Charging & Propane Growth
See which fleets are adding electric and propane school buses as districts and operators invest in charging infrastructure, bidirectional technology, and alternative-fuel expansion.
Read More →
Nobody Told Diesel Prices They Were Supposed to Come Down
With diesel prices surging, school bus fleets have new reason to stress-test fuel costs, consider diversification, and calculate what each route really costs to operate.
Read More →
Why Gasoline School Buses Are Making a Comeback
Gasoline is gaining ground in full-size school buses. See how today’s options stack up against diesel on cost, maintenance, emissions, performance, and more.
Read More →
EPA Opens $180M DERA Funding Round for Diesel Upgrades
The 2026 Diesel Emissions Reduction Act program seeks applications from eligible organizations to accelerate the retirement of legacy diesel vehicles.
Read More →
The Secret Life of an Electric School Bus Battery
Batteries change throughout years of daily routes, but degradation doesn’t necessarily mean the end. Here’s what operators should know about performance, safety, and second life.
Read More →
CALSTART and Forth Combine to Form Catalyst Mobility
The new name represents a renewed vision for the nonprofit focused on advancing clean, equitable, and affordable transportation solutions that move people and goods.
Read More →
Alt-Fuel Moves: New Buses, Charging Hubs & Real-World EV Testing
Propane and electric school bus deployments continue to grow as districts add new vehicles, expand charging infrastructure, and gather more real-world operating data.
Read More →
Fewer Electric School Bus Models Reshape the U.S. Market
WRI’s latest buyer’s guide points to a consolidating electric school bus market, but fewer options may reflect a maturing industry rather than fewer meaningful choices for school bus operators.
Read More →
The Fuel Budget You Can Actually Predict: How Propane Autogas Keeps Money in the Classroom
Learn how propane autogas helps school districts manage fuel costs with predictable pricing, lower maintenance, and reduced emissions from former transportation director Joel Stutheit.
Read More →
