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Aug. 17, 2011

First B-20 Powered School Bus Ready for Golden Years

National Magazine Features Medford, NJ bus, the first to run on biodiesel blend

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - When Medford, New Jersey's 1998 International school bus retired this summer, it reached a milestone in the process and as a result is featured in the September issue of nationally recognized Biodiesel Magazine. The bus was the first in New Jersey, and possibly the country, to be filled with B20.

Over the course of its life, the bus consumed over 28,000 gallons of biodiesel and exposed hundred of young people to a cleaner-burning advanced biofuel that not only helped protect their health, but taught them something about the importance of alternative fuels.

In 1997, biodiesel was a little known alternative fuel, and the industry was just getting its footing. That didn't stop Joe Biluck, Director of Operations and Technology for the Medford Township Public School district in Medford, New Jersey, from giving it a try. His goal: protect the health of the more than 3,500 students the district transports each day. 

On November 17, 1997, the first school bus in Medford's fleet was filled with B20.  The bus logged 190,000 miles and has never had any major engine work. It still has its original fuel injectors and pump. The only reason the bus is retiring is because of New Jersey's mandatory school bus retirement age.

Biluck sees the bus as symbolic of biodiesel industry's challenges and achievements over the past twelve years.

"Similar to the biodiesel industry, the bus certainly bears the marks of a traveling a long and difficult path and weathering a number of storms," Biluck said. "The industry has made monumental strides over the past 13 years. Since then, thousands of public and private fleets have made the switch to biodiesel blends in an effort to lessen their environmental impact."

Biluck points out that many of the children who rode the bus back in 1997 are now in their early 20's. He hopes that exposing those children and thousands of others over the past 13 years to a real world application of how renewable energy can be a successful alternative to fossil fuels has helped shape their views about the importance of sustainable energy as adults.

"Without early support from people like Biluck, the industry wouldn't be where it is today," said NBB Chairman Gary Haer. "As America's only commercially available advanced biofuel, biodiesel stands ready to help meet our energy challenges for years to come."

The district has been widely recognized for its pioneering efforts with biodiesel. The National Biodiesel Board awarded Biluck its annual Inspiration award in 2005 for all he has done to increase awareness and use of the cleaner burning fuel. The district also received two New Jersey Governor's Environmental Excellence Awards in 2007 and Biluck was named an Alternative Energy Pioneer by the DOE Clean Cities program. 

"Joe Biluck has helped us immeasurably in creating an environment where alternative fuels are accepted and welcomed," said Chuck Feinberg, Chairman and President New Jersey Clean Cities. He is always there to share his experience and mentor other fleets, which then helps lead to even more positive change. He is an inspiration."

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For more details on biodiesel's benefits, including economic and job boosts, energy security, and environmental, visit biodiesel.org.