Hoover Trying Biodiesel For Buses

Alabama Hoover Birmingham area school system testing fuel in order to cut down on exhaust emissions.

by Associated Press

Published: Mon, June 23, 2008 - 12:56 am CST Last Updated: Mon, June 23, 2008 - 1:00 am CST

HOOVER, Ala. (AP) - Hoover's school system has begun testing the
use of biodiesel fuel in school buses in an effort to cut down on
the exhaust emissions produced by petroleum-based diesel fuel.
State officials say Hoover is the third Alabama public school
system to go green on bus fuel, but with new incentives available
to schools, others are likely to follow.
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs last
week announced it has $50,000 to award grants to school systems to
help pay startup costs for switching to alternative fuels.
Beginning Monday in Decatur, the nonprofit Alabama Clean Fuels
Coalition, with help from the Alabama Department of Education, is
offering free seminars to give school transportation officials
information on alternative fuels.
Joe Lightsey, director of pupil transportation for the Alabama
Department of Education, says the new grants already are spurring
interest from districts across the state.
Workshops start Monday in Decatur at Calhoun Community College,
9-11 a.m.
On Tuesday, one will be held at the Hoover City Schools
Operations Center, 9-11 a.m., followed by another at the state
Department of Education in Montgomery, 2:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
Other cities on the schedule include Enterprise at the City
School Service Center on Wednesday, 9 a.m. -11 a.m.; and Thursday
in Monroeville at the Water Tower Conference Center, 9-11 a.m.

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