FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Monte Shaw, 515-252-6249

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 20 , 2009

Iowa Renewable Fuels Association Awards Three
Iowa School Districts Biodiesel Backer Grants

JOHNSTON, IA – The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA), has awarded $2,500 grants to three Iowa school districts through their Biodiesel Backer Award Program:

• Central Community Schools of Clinton County
• Vinton-Shellsburg Community School District
• Westwood School District

In order to be eligible for the grants, the schools had to educate their community about biodiesel and incorporate biodiesel and renewable fuels into their school programming. “We believe the schools receiving our Biodiesel Backer awards truly deserve them as they’ve done an outstanding job educating their communities but most importantly their students, after all they are our future as is the biofuels industry,” said IRFA Managing Director Lucy Norton.

Central Community Schools of Clinton County partnered with Energy Tec, a local company specializing in converting cooking oil to biodiesel, to kick off their Biodiesel Backer project. The school district plans to use a minimum B20 blend year round and has already installed a 2,000 gallon fuel tank to store the biodiesel.

In addition to running their 19 school buses on this cleaner burning, locally produced fuel, the school district made a commitment to the education of its high school, middle school and elementary students, adding biodiesel and renewable fuels to their curriculum. Also, in an attempt to educate the local community, the schools sought publicity from their local newspaper which published an educational piece on the school district’s biodiesel usage.

The Transportation Director at Vinton-Shellsburg Community School District used biodiesel in its 18 buses on a trial basis and found that the buses ran better and the biodiesel seemed to have a better lubricating effect on the engines.

The school district also involved their science club in educating other students and the community on the facts and benefits of biodiesel.  The students put together an informational PowerPoint presentation and delivered it to fellow classmates, the local lions club and are scheduled to appear at the next school board meeting.

The Westwood School District is currently running all their buses on biodiesel and will be incorporating biofuels education in their teaching curriculum. The school also plans to educate their local community through both public appearances and literature distribution.  

Each school will receive their $2,500 check during the Iowa Pupil Transportation Conference on July 21st at the airport Holiday Inn in Des Moines.

IRFA congratulates these school districts on their efforts and encourages all school districts to become involved in the movement. Using biodiesel in your school bus fleet can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, benefiting the environment and giving children cleaner air to breath.  Encouraging your school to fill their buses with biodiesel is a step toward a healthier community, a cleaner environment and a more energy independent nation.

The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association was formed in 2002 to represent the state’s ethanol and biodiesel producers.  The trade group fosters the development and growth of the renewable fuels industry in Iowa through education, promotion, legislation and infrastructure development.

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For more information, visit the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association website at:  www.IowaRFA.org.