The document proposes switching Asheville City school buses from diesel to a 20% biodiesel blend (B20) to reduce pollution, promote energy independence, and support the local economy. It notes that 25 million US students ride diesel buses daily and cites health and environmental issues with diesel. B20 is suggested as the most cost-effective biodiesel option that would still support local restaurants who supply used cooking oil to produce biodiesel. Potential benefits mentioned include job creation, lower emissions, and fuel security. Next steps proposed are gathering community support and working with local boards of education and AIR to implement the switch.

1. Fueling our buses for the
Environment

2. Current Situation
• 25 million students transported by school
buses every school day in the US
• Asheville City school buses travel 1,570 miles
per day.

3. Environmental/Health Issues with
Diesel
• Diesel fumes emit harmful pollutants into
the air.
• Particulate matter found in diesel fumes has
direct links to forms of cancer and asthma

4. Fuel Security Issues
• Tropical Storm Frances (2004 Floods)
• Diesel availability can be directly impacted
by local and national natural disasters
• Weak fuel independence

5. Possible Solutions
• Natural Gas
• Ethanol (Blends)
• Hydrogen
• Biodiesel

6. Biodiesel
• Produced from
renewable resources
• Different blends of
biodiesel
• Biodiesel is made by
combining alcohol
with recycled
cooking oil in a
chemical reaction
• Nontoxic and
biodegradable, about
as potent as table
salt.

7. Other School Systems
• 2010 Initiative
• 16 NC Counties

8. Benefits of Biodiesel
•
• Creates local jobs
• Keeps money in the local economy
• Promotes local restaurants
• Reduces carbon emissions
• Increases fuel security

9. •
Local
•Recycled
• Oil from 500 restaurants
• Reduced Cost
• Willing to work with Asheville City Schools

10. What would fuel our buses?
• Our buses would run on B20 biodiesel.
• B20 biodiesel is a mixture of 20% biodiesel
and 80% diesel.
• B20 is the closest in price to the diesel we are
currently using.
• It is the most common type of
biodiesel used.

12. Maintenance
Proc , K., Barnitt, R., Hayes, R. R., Ratcliff, M., McCormick, R., Ha, L., & Fang, H. L. (2006, October).
100,000-mile evaluation of transit buses operated on biodiesel blends (b20) . Retrieved from
http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy07osti/40128.pdf

13. Benefits of Biodiesel
o Cleaner, healthier air
o Reduces carbon
emissions
o Cost effective
o Made from
renewable materials
o Local supplier
o Biodegradable

14. Government Supports
Biodiesel
• Federal Biodiesel Tax Credit
• EPA's Renewable Fuel Standard
Program

15. Next Steps
• Asheville City Schools Greenteam
• Asheville City and Buncombe County
Board of Education
• AIR Support
• Petition
• Raising public awareness through a
website. Visit our website for more
information.

16. Sources
• Biodiesel. (2013, January 03). Retrieved from http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/biodiesel.shtml
• Gas price watch. (2013`, January 03). Retrieved from http://www.gaspricewatch.com/NC-
north-carolina/Asheville/diesel-gas-prices/page-1/2.htm
• Blue ridge biofuels. (2007). Retrieved from http://www.blueridgebiofuels.com/
• Biodiesel basics . (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.biodiesel.org/what-is-biodiesel/biodiesel-
basics
• CSIRO Australia (2007, November 30). Biodiesel Could Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions.
ScienceDaily. Retrieved January 4, 2013, from
http://www.sciencedaily.com-/releases/2007/11/071127101930.html
• Proc , K., Barnitt, R., Hayes, R. R., Ratcliff, M., McCormick, R., Ha, L., & Fang, H. L. (2006,
October). 100,000-mile evaluation of transit buses operated on biodiesel blends (b20) .
Retrieved from http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy07osti/40128.pdf
• Neal, D. (2012, June 28). Asheville goes greener with natural gas vehicles. Retrieved from
http://ncsc.ncsu.edu/index.php/2012/06/28/asheville-goes-greener-with-natural-gas-vehicles/
• Kanellos, M. (2008, January 31). California to experiment with hydrogen buses. Retrieved from
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-9862052-54.html