In early 2005, Transportation Director Darrell Clute began researching the possibility of using biodiesel in the buses of the Ferndale School District.  He called several diesel engine manufacturers and was assured that his vehicles’ warranties would not be voided unless it could be proven that problems had been a result of the biodiesel. 

After finding no legitimate drawback or reason to avoid using biodiesel in Ferndale’s fleet, he committed to a pilot program in 2006.  With the help of a grant from the Northwest Clean Air Agency, the buses in the Summer Program would be fueled by B100, a 99 percent mix of biodiesel to regular diesel.  He chose summertime for the pilot because warm temperatures would prevent gelling difficulties with the fuel.

Before starting to use biodiesel, Ferndale’s onsite fuel tanks were cleaned to remove any sediment that would dissolve because of biodiesel’s solvent properties.  For the same reason, each bus running on biodiesel had its fuel filter changed twice early in the program in order to remove impurities that had been in the vehicles’ tanks. 

Cleaning the tanks and changing the filters were the only changes made in advance of starting the biodiesel program.  The program ran successfully, without a single glitch.  In fact, the buses ran better and achieved better mileage with biodiesel than they had with petro-diesel.  So at the end of the summer, Ferndale Schools began using B20 (a 20 percent blend) in all of its diesel vehicles: 41 buses, 2 large trucks, and several lawnmowers and smaller trucks.

Ferndale schools currently use approximately 1,400 gallons of straight biodiesel per month during the school year.  They have had no issues with the B20 since they have been using it, which has inspired the shift to a 40% mixture for the 2007/2008 school year, the first tank of which was delivered on 8/27/2007. With the B20 they experienced a 36% reduction in particulate pollution levels from those caused by burning conventional diesel, and they are expecting a 70% reduction with the B40.

For more information on this project, contact Darrell Clute at (360)383-9236 or DClute@ferndale.wednet.edu