Schools increase biodiesel production

GASTONIA, N.C. – Gaston County Schools are expanding their production of bio-diesel, with the hopes of saving the district thousands of dollars.

When Gaston County started the operation two years ago, transportation officials made 10,000 gallons of bio-diesel out of an old soup pot. Now the once small operation has turned it into a major production facility, which allows them to make 10 times more bio-diesel.

The school district recently opened its new bio-diesel production facility. They use vegetable oil left over from the school cafeterias, recycling centers, and local businesses and put it through a special process that makes 500 gallons of bio-diesel a day, enough to help fuel 100 school buses.

School officials say it costs $.95 to produce a gallon of bio-diesel, versus $2.20 to purchase a gallon of diesel, and it is more environmentally friendly. The new facility and this lab cost the county close to $100,000, but the county says it will save $125,000 this year and they say the real savings are yet to come as the county pumps out more and more bio-diesel in the coming years.

“It allows us to do more directly for children. It allows us to spend more on instructional supplies and materials. It allows us to take money that would be used on transportation and spend it in the classroom,” said Reeves McGlohon, Gaston County Schools superintendent.

Gaston County is the first school district in the state to produce bio-diesel. Officials say they have been contacted by school districts all over the country inquiring about their production facility. They hope to double their production next year.

“The notion (of) taking cooking oil and turning it into something that can be used in school buses of is a fascinating concept. Today we have a modern bio-diesel center that’s unparalleled in any school system across this nation,” said McGlohon.