School district blazes a trail with Biodiesel
An oil found in products such as margarine and mayonnaise is making school buses here cheaper to run and less harmful to the environment.
The Manatee County School District is the first in the state to fill all 300 of its diesel-powered vehicles — including about 250 school buses — with biodiesel, a blend of soybean oil and diesel fuel.
Biodiesel is up to 8 cents per gallon cheaper than standard diesel. The switch will save the school district about $40,000 a year.
The amber-colored fuel also reduces emissions and helps vehicles get better mileage.
“Our engines love it,” said Don Ross, the district’s vehicle maintenance supervisor. “It’s homegrown, and it takes our children home.”
The move in Manatee has caught the eye of other Florida school districts.
A transportation official with Sarasota County’s schools sent an employee to Manatee’s maintenance garage Thursday to learn about the fuel.
The official, Ellery Girard, said his district may run a pilot biodiesel program in the spring and wanted more information from Manatee.
“We may try some here,” he said. “Anytime there’s something new on the market, and it looks like it can save the district money … we are ready to jump on board.”
In another innovative move, Manatee is looking to buy at least two hybrid-powered school buses in the spring, said Schools Superintendent Roger Dearing.
Hybrid buses can run on biodiesel and cost $200,000 each, compared to $85,000 for a standard bus.
They also are twice as efficient. The district is working on getting a federal grant to buy the hybrid buses.
As for biodiesel, about 200 bus fleets across the U.S. use it, including some school districts and government agencies.
There have been a few hiccups. In Colorado this month, subzero temperatures halted or slowed dozens of buses that use biodiesel fuel. The fuel gelled and clogged fuel filters. Children were left out in the cold.
Ross, the maintenance supervisor, doesn’t expect any such problems in Manatee.
Last month, buses here gave the new fuel — a mix of 20 percent soybean oil and 80 percent diesel — a test run. Things went smoothly, Ross said.
The buses did not need to be modified to use biodiesel.
On Thursday, the men in blue who work on the buses praised the new fuel. Standard diesel, they said, produces a cloud of soot that can burn the eyes. The odor lingers in the shop.
The new stuff smells sweeter, and “it doesn’t knock you out,” mechanic Doug Schroeder said.
No one would know better than Rod Craddock.
Ever since he got married six years ago, Craddock has slipped out of his mechanic’s uniform in his garage because his wife didn’t like the diesel smell.
With biodiesel, it’s not so bad.
“It’s better when you go home and your wife isn’t complaining about your odor,” the 37-year-old said.