HOUSTON -- Some Houstonians have stopped paying high prices at the pump by switching to an alternative fuel, KPRC Local 2 reported.

"It is a diesel fuel made from vegetable oil that you can just pour in your tank and drive," said Chris Powers, owner of Houston Biodiesel. "No modifications necessary."

It was just a hobby for Powers and his business partner, Eloy Benitez, until their makeshift gas station quickly drew attention.

"We started it for environmental reasons," Powers said. "It has quickly turned into a little business. We are just enjoying ourselves."

"There was nobody else making it available in Houston, which we found amazing," said Benitez.

Their company gets their supply from local refineries.

Safe Fuels Refinery in Conroe manufactures biodiesel from soybean oil.

"We are producing it as fast as our clients are giving us the oil," said Rich DeGarmo of Safe Fuels Refinery.

The demand is so high that Safe Fuels will double their production to 20 million gallons by the end of the year.

"The engine seems a little quieter," Houston Biodiesel customer Don Spies said. "There is less smoke out of the engine."

Benitez credits the smoother-running engine to the lubricant nature of biodiesel.

"It can be used either as an additive or as a substitute for diesel," Benitez said.

"The beauty about biodiesel is the technology is here now," Powers said. "It is something the average person with a diesel vehicle could start using today."

Houston Biodiesel will open a second location on Navigation Boulevard in June.

For more information, visit www.houstonbiodiesel.com or www.safe-fuels.com.