GREENVILLE, S.C. -- AAA said gas prices have dropped about 30 cents in the past four weeks. Even so, gas is still a dollar more than what it was this time last year. But Pickens County is in pursuit of a solution, as council members there voted Tuesday to use biodiesel in all county trucks.

The move could save taxpayers big money.

Pickens County Council decided cut back on the $1 million they spend each year on gas.

"It's going to save taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars on an on-going basis," Pickens County Administrator Chappell Hurst said.

The county tested alternative fuel in a truck in June. But, now they will use the biodiesel in all county vehicles.

They voted to buy the tanks from a company in Wisconsin and house them at the solid waste department.

The purchase will set them back about half a million dollars. But, since twice that is spent on gas right now Hurst said taxpayers can look forward to $500,000 in savings the first year; and the fuel is friendly to the environment.

"This fuel burns 60 percent cleaner than regular diesel fuel," Hurst said.

The new fuel is basically made from uncooked vegetable oil. The administrator said they didn't want to use oil from a food like corn because they didn't want to drive up those prices.

"We'll actually purchase that oil. It will be imported and it will come into the port of Chas and then we will go down with our tanker truck and bring it back to Pickens County," Hurst said.

Hurst said they hope to have county trucks running on the biodiesel in 90 days.

"It takes about that long to make the equipment," Hurst said.

Hurst said he's hoping their fight against soaring prices at the pump will catch on in other counties.

Hurst said other agencies have gotten in touch with him about the biodiesel including the Greenville County School District and Clemson. He said both are interested in using it in their buses.