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Summary
Gaston County Schools (GCS) is the first
school district in the state to produce its own biodiesel fuel for use
in its buses. School officials are recycling used vegetable oil from school
cafeterias, recycling centers, restaurants and large manufacturers that
produce waste oil. The school system expects to produce up to 200,000
gallons fuel this coming year and save about $300,000 annually, following
a nationwide trend of using alternative fuel to save money and cut down
on toxic emissions.
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Project Details
In an effort to reduce diesel emissions from its school bus
fleet, GCS began making biodiesel onsite in 2005. Using grease from the school
cafeterias, the initial facility produced 75 gallon batches of biodiesel which
was used to fuel the buses. Because of the support of the community and the
commitment of the School District, GCS expanded its facility for making biodiesel.
This new facility produces enough biodiesel to fuel the entire fleet with biodiesel
and expects to produce 200,000 gallons per year.
Members of the Transportation Department make the fuel by mixing
used vegetable oil with alcohol and sodium hydroxide to create a chemical reaction
that yields biodiesel fuel. The total cost of the recycled oil is 60 cents a
gallon. “It is a rather simple process,” said assistant transportation
director Grady Truett, who is coordinating the innovative effort. Using the
clean-burning, alternative fuel reduces air pollution and decreases the school
system's dependency on petroleum-based fuels. Truett says, “It is a much
cleaner transportation fuel made from recycled and renewable resources.”
Increased biodiesel use in the fleet reduces harmful emissions,
including particulate matter, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, sulfur dioxide
and toxic contaminants. Furthermore, GCS has demonstrated a strong commitment
to idle reduction programs involving its bus fleet. GCS adopted an anti-idling
policy long before it was required, and trained over 500 of its bus drivers
in idle-reduction practices. GCS has also retrofitted many of its buses with
diesel oxidation catalysts to further reduce diesel emissions.
By the numbers:
| Vehicles: |
Use biodiesel to fuel 206 school buses in fleet |
| Fuel Type: |
Biodiesel (varying blends) |
| Annual Fuel Savings: |
Expect to save $300,000 annually (can produce biodiesel
for $0.60/gal) |
| Total Fuel Produced: |
Expect to produce 200,000 gallons of biodiesel
annually |
| Sphere of Influence: |
Sixth largest system in NC, w/
14,000 children transported 11,000 miles daily
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Contact Information:
Grady Truett
Assist. Director of Transportation
gtruett@gaston.k12.nc.us
If you have a success story you would like to submit please
contact Sarah
Niess at (sniess@centralina.org).
