The Chester County Biodiesel Coalition is comprised of Moms for the Future, a grassroots association of parents advocating for their children's future; The Energy Cooperative, a member-owned nonprofit energy supplier serving southeastern Pennsylvania; Krapf Bus Companies, a family-owned charter and school bus service company,; and five Chester County school districts: Coatesville Area School Districts, Downingtown Area School District, Kennett Consolidated School district, West Chester Area School district, and the Chester County Intermediate Unit. Each of the coalition members brought unique expertise to ensure that the project was successful. The Energy Cooperative coordinated the efforts of these diverse stakeholders and secured $300,000 grant funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to pay for any incremental cost for premium fuel for two years. By committing to purchase 1.1 million gallons of ASTM-grade B20 biodiesel per year, the five school districts represent one of the largest fleets in Pennsylvania to make the switch.

Moms for the Future, long concerned both with the air their children are breathing and issues of climate change, rallied early support among county parents and citizens, testified at school district meetings, and met with district officials. This community advocacy was crucial to the success of the project. Krapf Bus Company owns and operates the school buses for the districts and has a long-standing track record of environmental leadership. Krapf leveraged its relationship with the school districts to advance the idea of the switch and committed to running its buses on the fuel.By making this change in practice, the school districts are furthering their mission to benefit students and taxpayers. However, the districts were concerned about the added costs of the biodiesel and were reluctant to make a change without some aid from the state or federal governments. The availability of funds though DEP's Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant (AFIG) program was key in moving this project forward.

In order to promote the concept of renewable energy within the schools, the Coalition sponsored an essay contest for the local high schools. Students were invited to submit an essay, answering the question, "Why is it important to you that your school uses biodiesel in its buses?" The winner read the essay at the press conference which was held on Dec.6 at the Henderson High School in West Chester. Titled ,"Out of the Smog and into the Light," the essay closes with the following statement: "And when I wave to my younger brother in the morning, I will not be left with a cloud of pollution, but with a clear view of the future of renewable energy sources."

With the track record of the Energy Cooperative in making projects like this successful, it was a logical move for the other members of the Coalition to join forces with the Energy Cooperative. Not only did the Cooperative bring technical expertise to the project, but it was also going to be the fuel vendor. This sales volume will allow the Cooperative to lease a 20,000 gallon storage tank with a loading rack for B100 in Philadelphia. By creating this B100 loading tank in the city, the accessibility of biodiesel in the market place will be greatly increased and will reduce the cost and burden of delivering biodiesel blends in the metropolitan area.

The Coalition was fortunate that DEP was able to accept this umbrella structure of this grant by allowing one entity to apply on behalf of several community groups which minimized the paper work for DEP and reduced the obstacles for school districts.This project is the culmination of a collaboration of the community, a model of public-private partnership, and a milestone for the Commonwealth.

'Unique Coalition Leads Multiple School Districts to Switch to Biodiesel Demonstrates Compelling Model for Environmental Advocacy' was the lead for the press release to announce the press conference which was held to introduce the Chester County Biodiesel Coalition and the biodiesel school bus activity to the community. This grant will substantially reduce harmful emissions, decrease dependence on foreign fuels, and provide cleaner air for both the children who rely on school buses for transportation and county residents.

Moms for the Future, one of the members of the Coalition, issued a statement which said 'We feel better knowing that our children will be exposed to less asthma-causing pollutants when they ride the school buses. We also feel great knowing that the B20 biodiesel will help reduce the CO2 pollution that causes global climate change. This success shows that the mother's voice is a powerful voice for good.'

This statement in essence captures the significance of this project. Its impact will be widespread over the community in an environmental, economical, and social equity way. It is innovative by presenting the partnership and collaboration model to DEP. It can be replicated and promoted for its efficient manner in the use of public resources. Forging partnerships among Pennsylvania companies and public entities to develop the market place and infrastructure for cleaner, domestically produced biodiesel will create a stronger, healthier local economy.

The Energy Cooperative will maximize the involvement of Pennsylvania-based companies to bolster in-state production and distribution infrastructure and to spur economic development in the Commonwealth. The fuel volume resulting from this grant will allow the Cooperative to acquire its own B100 storage tank in Philadelphia. In adherence with the Keystone Principles, The Cooperative is redeveloping an existing urban tank slated for closure rather than constructing a new tank in a geenfield. This initiative meets the Principles of Redevelopment First.

By switching its fuel to B20. the school districts are furthering their mission to benefit students and taxpayers. Biodiesel can be used either as a pure fuel or blended with petroleum such as in B20 - 20% biodiesel with 80% petroleum diesel. According to figures from the National Biodiesel Board, each year the districts' use of B20 will reduce carbon monoxide by 12%, particulate matter by 12%, hydrocarbons by 20%, sulfur dioxide by 20%, and net carbon dioxide by 16%. Further, since biodiesel is made in the United States from domestic resources, it reduces reliance on foreign oil and increases American's energy security.

Krapf Bus Companies, working in conjunction with the school districts, has become one of the most environmentally-conscious bus companies in the country. Over 1 million dollars of diesel particulate filters have been placed on Krapf-owned buses for three of these districts. As the 10th largest school bus operator in the United States, Krapf sets an example about what can be accomplished by working in cooperation with other members of the community and different levels of government. The award of this grant by DEP will allow for the use of a cleaner, healthier domestic fuel while maintaining cost neutrality. The Chester County Biodiesel Coalition brought together a diverse group - a non-profit with technical expertise, a for-profit professional transportation company with strong local ties to the communities that it serves, and a grassroots association advocating for the future of their children. They worked together to develop a concept and were fortunate to be able to present the application to a department of the Commonwealth which was willing to look for an novel and lasting approach to deal with the complexities facing local communities.