The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is switching its 870 cars, trucks, buses, vans, tractors and utility vehicles toalternative fuels

Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman on May 20 issued an executive order requiring state vehicles to use alternative fuels. UNL is one of the largest motor vehicle fleets in the state.

"One advantage of converting to E-10 and 2 percent soy biodiesel is that we don't have to modify our vehicles," said Patrick Barrett, director of UNL Transportation Services. "Any gasoline-powered vehicle can burn E-10. The same goes for the 2 percent soy biodiesel, which will work in anything from a 1940s model heavy truck to our most modern diesel vehicle."

Alternative fuels are less polluting, they have become economically viable, and for farm states they are particularly attractive as the source is home grown.