N.C. schools cook up biodiesel to fuel buses

Inside some pots discarded by school cafeterias, schools in Gaston County, N.C., are making biodiesel fuel — and enough of it to keep their school buses running all year. The idea came from Grady Truett, the schools' assistant transportation director, who wanted to cut down on the fumes inside his school buses, reports The Charlotte Observer. Two years later, his operation is churning out thousands of gallons of biodiesel, a renewable fuel made from fat and oil, and drawing plenty of visiting engineers, reports Rebecca Sulock.

"With used grease suctioned from the Lance Cracker factory, school cafeterias and the Shrimp Boat, Truett expects to brew 100,000 gallons of biodiesel this school year," writes Sulock."Gaston is the first school district in the state to make its own fuel, and officials say that will save at least $125,000 in fuel costs."

Using old parts and plans from the Internet, Truett and other school workers built the facility for about about $100,000. They needed help with the electrical system, but they saved more almost $1 million by using their own labor and old parts. The school system has not had to hire any additional staff for the facility — which sits in a bay where workers used to paint the school buses — but it might add another staffer to increase production. The Gaston fuel is a blend of regular diesel and biodiesel, because pure biodiesel would be too hard on the buses. (Read more)