Cherokee uses Biodiesel
Citizen Times 4/16/07
Tribe’s school buses use biodiesel
by Jon Ostendorff, jostendorff@citizen-times
published April 16, 2007 12:15 am
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CHEROKEE — The school system on the Cherokee Indian Reservation is the only one in North Carolina running all of its buses on biodiesel, tribal officials say, and they hope other school systems will follow their lead.
Since installing a biodiesel tank in October, the Cherokee Boys Club has moved its fleet of 28 school buses to the alternative fuel. The buses are all standard-issue yellow Bluebird, Thomas and International models with no special engine modifications.
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The Boys Club provides education, transportation and social services for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. The tribe is also running its dump trucks, bulldozers and excavators on the fuel.
Biodiesel is a clean burning alternative fuel produced from plant oils or animal fats.
“I think it is something that is a benefit to Western North Carolina, the tribe and the Qualla Boundary,” said Frank Cooper, the finance manager for the Cherokee Boys Club. “We are trying to be a good example.”
And biodiesel use appears to be ready to expand in WNC.
In March, the diesel fleet on the North Carolina side of Great Smoky Mountains National Park started using the fuel. In January, Hop’s
Gas and Grocery in Cullowhee became the first service station west of Asheville to sell biodiesel fuel.
Mountain Energy will soon offer the fuel at its pumps soon.
The Boys Club is not yet running its fleet of charter buses or its tractor-trailers for hauling trash on biodiesel but hopes to soon make that conversion.
Cooper said the biggest issue standing in the way of running all vehicles on the fuel is that sometimes the conversion is not covered by warranty. The fuel’s cost is about the same as normal diesel.
He hopes that as more governments move to using the fuel, vehicle manufacturers will offer warranties.
The tribe buys its fuel from Smoky Mountain Biofuels. The company is based at the Jackson County Green Energy Park in Dillsboro and uses methane gas tapped from a landfill to provide the energy needed to produce the fuel.
JoElla Jackson, of the Eastern Band’s environmental office, said much of the air pollution around the Qualla Boundary and the Smokies comes from sources in the Tennessee Valley.
Pollution from cars driven by tourists, local trucks and buses also contribute, she said.
The tribe’s switch to biodiesel is a good step but probably won’t improve air quality by itself, she said.
She said the move will help as other governments and individuals start using the fuel.
“Once you get huge numbers of people using alternative fuels and alternative energy is when you will see a difference,” she said.
Citizen Times 4/16/07
Tribe’s school buses use biodiesel
by Jon Ostendorff, jostendorff@citizen-times
published April 16, 2007 12:15 am
Read 2 comments » e-mail this Print this
CHEROKEE — The school system on the Cherokee Indian Reservation is the only one in North Carolina running all of its buses on biodiesel, tribal officials say, and they hope other school systems will follow their lead.
Since installing a biodiesel tank in October, the Cherokee Boys Club has moved its fleet of 28 school buses to the alternative fuel. The buses are all standard-issue yellow Bluebird, Thomas and International models with no special engine modifications.
Advertisement
The Boys Club provides education, transportation and social services for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. The tribe is also running its dump trucks, bulldozers and excavators on the fuel.
Biodiesel is a clean burning alternative fuel produced from plant oils or animal fats.
“I think it is something that is a benefit to Western North Carolina, the tribe and the Qualla Boundary,” said Frank Cooper, the finance manager for the Cherokee Boys Club. “We are trying to be a good example.”
And biodiesel use appears to be ready to expand in WNC.
In March, the diesel fleet on the North Carolina side of Great Smoky Mountains National Park started using the fuel. In January, Hop’s
Gas and Grocery in Cullowhee became the first service station west of Asheville to sell biodiesel fuel.
Mountain Energy will soon offer the fuel at its pumps soon.
The Boys Club is not yet running its fleet of charter buses or its tractor-trailers for hauling trash on biodiesel but hopes to soon make that conversion.
Cooper said the biggest issue standing in the way of running all vehicles on the fuel is that sometimes the conversion is not covered by warranty. The fuel’s cost is about the same as normal diesel.
He hopes that as more governments move to using the fuel, vehicle manufacturers will offer warranties.
The tribe buys its fuel from Smoky Mountain Biofuels. The company is based at the Jackson County Green Energy Park in Dillsboro and uses methane gas tapped from a landfill to provide the energy needed to produce the fuel.
JoElla Jackson, of the Eastern Band’s environmental office, said much of the air pollution around the Qualla Boundary and the Smokies comes from sources in the Tennessee Valley.
Pollution from cars driven by tourists, local trucks and buses also contribute, she said.
The tribe’s switch to biodiesel is a good step but probably won’t improve air quality by itself, she said.
She said the move will help as other governments and individuals start using the fuel.
“Once you get huge numbers of people using alternative fuels and alternative energy is when you will see a difference,” she said.