LINCOLN COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) --- Many experts says the only way to stop rising gas prices right now is to just use less gas. But a groundbreaking energy project beginning right here in our region will put hundreds of the biofuel bandwagon and save thousands of dollars.

Here's the kicker -- it's operated by high school students.

Friday, United States Senator Jay Rockefeller and an FFA student will pour the first gallon of home grown biodiesel into a Lincoln County School bus tank. This is a fuel saving project that many say should be growing around the country.

FFA students at Lincoln County High say you can't find this bio-production equipment to convert vegetable oil into diesel fuel any where else in West Virginia. You can't find a large scale bio-processing plant like this anywhere on the eastern seaboard.

"It will help the environment, save money," Kacelyn Brogan, an FFA student, said. "Teach us a trade."

Students will make the biodiesel fuel from three main sources, used industrial cooking oil, they will grow canola seed and a greenhouse full of oil rich producing algae.

With local diesel prices at 5 dollars a gallon, the young eco-entrepreneurs say they'll make enough biodiesel - 500 gallons a week at just two dollars a gallon -- to fuel the district bus fleet and save 32 thousand dollars next school year.

"We'll have more money for classes and tips," Heather Hild, an FFA student, said. "It will be much cleaner."

Once the Lincoln County bus fleet has it's biofill, local farmers and diesel truck drivers may be topping their tanks here at school.

Biodiesel is also eco-friendly. It cuts exhaust emissions by 92%.