MEDFORD, NEW JERSEY
SCHOOL DISTRICT

When the last school bell rings in Medford, NJ, many of the kids who take the school bus home ride in buses fueled by biodiesel.

The Medford School District has used a blend of 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent petroleum in half of its 40 school buses since 1997.

"It's been absolutely fantastic," said Joe Biluck, Jr., director of operations and technology for the district.  "We've had no down time as a result of this fuel.  We've seen no drop in miles per gallon, which means the engines aren't working any harder."

Biodiesel has given the school district year-round dependability.

"We've never had a fuel system gel up on us," Biluck said.  "We've run down to temperatures of 11 degrees below zero and haven't experienced any problems."

Biluck says the kids seem to notice a positive difference in the fumes, too.

"We transport a fair amount of physically and mentally disabled students," he said.  "One driver who drives a bus running on biodiesel told me she's really noticed a difference in the fumes her bus gives out compared to those just running on diesel.  She said her kids weren't struggling to breath when she was unloading them on the lifts.  The tailpipes happen to be right there so you can see these kids' reactions to the diesel fumes - they just don't like it.  And the biodiesel vehicles have a significantly less obnoxious smell to them."

Anyone interested in implementing this fuel as a means of securing compliance with EPACT or other regulations can contact:

Mr. Joe Biluck, Jr.
Director of Operations
Medford Township Public Schools
Medford, New Jersey 08055
(609) 953-2507