Point intercity bus service joins Oregon transit agencies in transition to renewable diesel

Photo: Oregon Department of Transportation

The Oregon Department of Transportation’s Point intercity bus service has joined Oregon’s transit agencies—Lane Transit District and TriMet—in making a leap toward sustainability by transitioning its Cascades Route fleet from petroleum diesel to renewable diesel.

Renewable diesel is chemically identical to petroleum diesel, allowing it to be used as a direct replacement without costly engine modifications.

Making this switch has an immediate environmental benefit without delays or new expenses.

After several months of successful testing, Point’s Cascades Route—operated by ODOT’s contractor MTRWestern—has fully transitioned to renewable diesel. 

“Renewable diesel gives us the best of both worlds—a significant reduction in emissions with no disruption to service or reliability,” said Jeremy Butzlaff, the president of MTRWestern.

“As an operator, it’s a seamless solution that lets us support ODOT’s climate goals today while maintaining the high standards riders expect from the Point service,” Butzlaff added.

According to the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, renewable diesel significantly reduces harmful tailpipe emissions—including particulate matter, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides—while offering a cleaner burn than petroleum diesel.

Produced in the U.S. and elsewhere from a variety of plant, animal fats and waste oils, renewable diesel is cleaner-burning and newly available for commercial use in the Pacific Northwest.

MTR currently gets its R99 from Christensen Fuels based in Richland, Washington. 

“Seventy percent of all Point rides are on the route between Portland and Eugene, so this cost-effective, sustainable switch reduces our carbon footprint significantly," said Joel Manning, Point bus manager.

With this move, ODOT continues to align with Oregon’s broader climate goals, providing vital intercity connections while leading in clean-transportation innovation.