Waste Not, Want Not: A Shared Tanker Truck for Haywood County Biodiesel Production, Education and Training

1.0 Introduction

Haywood County, population 58,000, is located in Western North Carolina in one of the most biodiverse regions of the country. Haywood County boasts many mountains over 6,000 feet, outdoor recreation of all kinds, and a small town lifestyle. Haywood County is bordered by the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Pisgah National Forest, and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Protection of natural resources, including soil, flora, fauna, and water are of paramount concern. Despite its inherent wealth in natural resources, Haywood County suffers from decades of development that did not consider fuel costs, infrastructure maintenance, and pollution when planning for transportation. Recent economic stressors have led to a new public focus on sustainability for our county which includes a strong focus on transportation including fuel usage by our county fleet. Increased public awareness has resulted in the need for not only solutions, but increased public education in the area of alternative transportation and fuels. These sustainability efforts are being led by county government, economic development agencies, and county education institutions. This proposed effort will be spearheaded by Haywood County Recycling and Solid Waste Management, Haywood Community College, and Haywood County Child Nutrition Program (HCCNP).

Haywood Community College serves more than 3,000 unduplicated curriculum and 6,000 continuing education students each year. HCC takes a proactive stance on environmental conservation and is immersed in a Campus Sustainability Initiative that spans facilities, curriculum and continuing education courses, and daily operations. We are reaching out in all directions to become a leader for Western North Carolina in both the education and demonstration of sustainability. The College continues to develop new partners in sustainability on a weekly basis including: Land of Sky Regional Council, N.C. Solar Center, NC State Industrial Extension, Haywood County Chamber of Commerce, Department of Labor, etc.

The Haywood County Child Nutrition Program serves 4 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 3 high schools with an annual budget in excess of $4 million and 106 employees. Five of these schools produce ‘yellow grease’ as part of their food preparation. The Haywood County Schools food service program is a self-supporting enterprise. Unlike other school employees, food service employees are not paid with state funds. Lunch prices were last increased in 2001-2002 and had been the same price for 10 years before that increase. Breakfast prices have not increased in fourteen years. We have already begun picking up yellow grease in partnership with the HCCNP. Formally, the county school system was paying a commercial vendor to collect the waste grease. This project will not only help facilitate the effort of the county to produce local fuel from waste products, but will also help reduce the cost of providing food for county public school students.

The Haywood County Recycling and Solid Waste Management Department (HCRSWM) operates 10 collection "convenience" centers, a Materials Recovery Facility, and the White Oak Landfill. The 10 collection convenience centers collect household waste plus recyclables. Recently, the HCRSWM has begun accepting waste grease from residential customers during the implemented phase-in of a small scale BioDiesel production facility in conjunction with a sister-facility at HCC.

1.1 Project Description

Haywood Community College requests $35,500 for the purchase, assembly, and exterior modification of a 300-gallon capacity biodiesel tanker truck that would be shared between the College and Haywood County Recycling and Solid Waste Management. This figure includes $25,000 to $30,000 for a 2008 F450 priced 11/08 at Ken Wilson Ford in Canton, NC (the cost depends on options and current rebates), $5,000 to outfit the truck with an electric pump, 300-gallon tank and the hoses and fittings, and $500 towards the painting/decoration budget for the tanker to serve as a mobile educational tool for biodiesel production. Contributions by others to the project are outlined in the budget.

We are very excited by the ‘moving billboard’ concept for this tanker, and see it as a tremendous opportunity to capture the attention of the public and generate greater project support. To accomplish this, we propose holding a “French Fries to Fuel Tank” contest for County residents and/or students from HCC or Haywood County Schools to design a mural or other artistic application for the tanker. Entries will be posted online where the public can vote for the design they want to win. The winning entry will be created by the submitting artist(s). We will advertise the contest and publicize the winning design online and through county news outlets. Designers must be able to execute their design on a budget of $1,000 for supplies with volunteer labor, and will be required to include details on the support received for the tanker from NCDENR/DAQ.

Once in service, the tanker would be used to collect and transport yellow grease for the Haywood County Biofuels PET (Production, Education and Training) Project. The PET Project is the first biodiesel production program in Haywood County. It involves installing biodiesel facilities on the HCC campus and at the HCRSWM center; producing biodiesel fuel to supply College and County diesel vehicles; integrating biodiesel production into the College’s existing Industrial and Automotive Systems Technology curricula and incorporating it into a proposed Sustainable Technology certificate program to train members of the regional workforce in biofuels technology; and increasing local and regional awareness and public education of biofuels and biodiesel production. HCC’s partners in initiating and sustaining this project include HCRSWM, Blue Ridge Biofuels LLC, Southwestern NC RC&D Council, the North Carolina Cooperative Extension, and Land of Sky Regional Council’s Clean Vehicles Coalition.

Biodiesel refineries and fuel produced from the project will be used to fuel county and college vehicles, offsetting current county fuel costs of petroleum-based diesel and potentially freeing up resources for future biodiesel production. Moneys, once allocated for purchasing petroleum diesel, will be reinvested in continuing production of biodiesel for county vehicles. Jobs created include a new county biofuels technician position to oversee biodiesel production; a new part-time college continuing education coordinator for regional program promotion, coordination and recruitment; and expansion of an existing faculty position from 9 to 12 months per year for two years, for curriculum development and integration into existing degree programs.

The presence of a biodiesel refinery facility based on HCC’s campus (opening January 2009) will provide additional training opportunities for students and members of the local workforce to contribute to job and technology skills training for regional economic development in alternative fuels. The integration of a biodiesel refinery facility into college educational programming will allow short-course opportunities for individuals to learn how to install and operate their own reactors/refineries, including ‘BioDiesel for the Consumer’ being offered March 2009. Public education on biofuels production will additionally be integrated into the county agricultural initiative to research the potential for locally grown ‘fuel’ crops, in collaboration with Haywood Agricultural Extension and the USDA Test Farm located in Haywood County.

With the necessary partnership, staffing, production equipment, and outreach commitments now in place, our next challenges are the collection and transportation of donated yellow grease, and the ongoing building of public support for the project. The requested tanker will provide the most safe, cost-effective and time-efficient means to collect and transport the grease. It will also position us to handle the anticipate growth in donations as program awareness spreads throughout the County and more individual homeowners and/or County agencies see our tanker driving around and realize that they can join the effort, too. Our proposal is based on initially fueling seven vehicles with B20. The highest-use vehicle on this list is an F450 used to haul compacted waste from throughout the County to the Oak Hill landfill, approximately 1450 miles per month. As increased collections enable greater biodiesel production, we will increase the number of alternatively fueled vehicles and/or the mix of biodiesel used. For example, we would love to fuel a second hauler with biodiesel if collections and production can support that. In addition to the second refuse hauler, the next vehicle priorities would be skid-steers and similar equipment owned by HCRSWM. If all of these vehicles were added to our biodiesel fleet, the emissions reductions of this project would more than double the figures included in this proposal. We have the facilities and staffing to produce a weekly maximum of 100 gallons of biodiesel per week between the two reactors; the limiting factors at this time to that level of production are the supply of yellow grease and the inefficiency of the current collection process. Using the tanker to advertise the program will help to increase our feedstock supply as well as our collection capacity, and ultimately our alternatively-fueled fleet

If received, the tanker will be shared between HCC and HCRSWM, with each coordinating and adjusting its own collection routes and frequencies as required by supply. HCC projects bi-weekly trips to the five participating county schools, while HCRSWM projects monthly circuits to the ten established collection centers. HCC will also collect yellow grease from the College Café.

The tanker truck is needed to begin the collections from the school system, which is the primary contributor for the College operation at this time. At the ten county collection centers, homeowners already drop off their grease in individual lidded buckets that are picked up by county employees on scheduled general collection runs; however having a vacuum tanker truck would make this collection program a lot easier and more efficient for the County and the donors. It would enable the county to install larger tanks for grease collection, into which homeowners could empty their containers (recycling them for future use) and from which the tanker could pump out the contents monthly. It would also allow for higher volume collection on a single run.

“Improperly managed oil and grease from restaurants has become a significant problem for wastewater collection and treatment systems. Fats, oils, and greases (FOG) coat, congeal,

and accumulate in pipes, pumps, and equipment, leading to the costly and hazardous flow of waste grease into drain lines, sewer lines, lift stations, drain fields, and Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTWs). Improper disposal can result in high biological oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) levels, increased operating costs, and clogged collection systems. Approximately, 30% of the 3,800 reported sewer system overflows in North

Carolina in 1998 were caused by FOG blockage of the sewers.”(NCDENER/Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance (DPPEA-FY99-17, 1999). In addition to helping to improve air quality, this project will also help protect critical natural resources in our area by protecting wastewater treatment infrastructure from malfunctioning and failure, therefore protecting our natural waterways.

1.2 Project Staffing

Dr. Milton E. Tignor, Jr. (“Buddy”) will lead this tanker project. As HCC Chairperson, Department of Natural Resources Management, and Campus Sustainability Coordinator, Dr. Tignor leads HCC’s efforts to integrate sustainability into all aspects of campus operations including curriculum development, transportation, landscape, energy efficiency, natural resources management, and procurement. He serves on the Haywood Chamber of Commerce Green Business Initiative Committee and contributed to the NC Community College “Code Green” Initiative mentioned in this proposal. Dr. Tignor’s background is in sustainable agriculture. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Florida, and M.S. and B.S. degrees from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, all in Horticultural Science.

Dr. Tignor will be supported on this project by the full Haywood County Biodiesel PET Project team, which includes HCRSWM Director Stephen King, HCC President Rose Johnson, HCC Executive Director of Administrative Services Debbie Trull, HCC Biofuels Continuing Education Coordinator Adam Bigelow, HCC Facilities & Fleet Maintenance Team Leader Scott Page, and HCC Instructors Bruce Campbell, Thomas Clements and Jim McClure. This entire team brings together a wealth of experience from a breadth of relevant specialty areas, and a commitment to successfully implement and sustain biodiesel production, education and training in Haywood County. We are happy to provide individual resumes upon request.

1.3 Degree of Public Support and Previous Environmental Projects

The Haywood County PET Project partners have been working together since 2007 to make this collaborative biodiesel initiative a reality, including coming up with a combined $80,298 in cash and in-kind donations (details provided in section 4.0) to leverage $135,845 in grant funding from the Biofuels Center of NC in 2008. Since that time, Haywood County Schools has joined the effort with a commitment to donate yellow grease from five school locations, and individual homeowners have been bringing their donations to HCRSWM’s ten collection centers throughout the County. This project enjoys significant and demonstrated county-wide support that we believe will continue to grow as program visibility and awareness increase.

In addition to the biodiesel initiative, Haywood Community College models environmental stewardship and collaboration in many other ways. As examples, we have incorporated the topics of sustainable development and resource conservation into 47 diverse courses across our degree programs, installed rain gardens on campus, begun converting our campus fleet to hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles, developed procedures to promote sustainability through landscaping and purchasing (electronics and paper), and grown produce on campus that is served in the café. We now offer a Green Building Certificate program and have a Low Impact Development A.A.S. program of study currently pending State approval. Our President is spearheading a North Carolina Community College System“Code Green” initiative (along with the System President and others) to drive a new sustainability initiative statewide; and our Director of Community and Economic Development has also taken the lead in offering a new suite of ten continuing education courses that will help promote environmental awareness to the general public.

To highlight another collaborative environmental project, in partnership with the Forest Products Research Laboratory, Haywood County, and many regional industries and foundations, we are building a Demonstration House in response to the need for durable, affordable, and energy-efficient housing in the region. Haywood County government has donated land adjacent to the campus with low site impact for the construction of the house. It is anticipated that the site will present a combination of difficulties and opportunities representative of available building sites in Haywood County. Working with Low Impact Development and green building construction techniques, energy-efficient materials and construction, this 1,800 SF single-family, single-story house will be built post-and-beam style using underutilized forest products such as red maple, chestnut oak, and hemlock. LEED-NC Rating System v.2.1 published by the U.S. Green Building Council and the Greenspec Directory published by Building Green were used as primary sources in the building plans and specifications, and we plan to seek LEED certification when the house is complete. Energy efficient materials such as solar panels, a thermal heating pump, a lower-water and highly-insulated water heater, and high-efficiency lighting are included in the plans. HCC students will have the opportunity to contribute their skills and knowledge in the construction of this house. In addition to demonstrating low impact development and energy efficiency approaches for the public, including practical technologies that homebuilders, industry and consumers can readily adopt, the Demonstration House exhibits the collaborative efforts of Haywood County constituents to be thoughtful stewards of our environment and its resources.

2.0 Quantifiable Reductions

We used the EPA Quantifier at http://cfpub.epa.gov/quantifier/view/index.cfm to calculate emissions reductions for our proposed project.

For sample calculations including inputs and a result summary table, please see the appendix.

3.0 Unquantifiable Benefits

Having a biofuels program at Haywood Community College broadens the reach of statewide efforts to increase biofuels awareness, education and training. Complementing the work of the Blue Ridge Biofuels production facility in neighboring Buncombe County, in Haywood County we are training students and community members in the production of biofuels at a technical level and demonstrating that biodiesel is a viable opportunity for everyone. Partnering with Haywood County's local government provides an excellent avenue for community awareness of biofuels as their vehicles traverse the county daily. The tanker truck will amplify that presence as it makes its collection rounds throughout the county and appearances at College and County events including county fairs, trade shows, opportunity showcases, and holiday parades. Thus, the people of Haywood County will be exposed to the concept, practicality and benefit of biodiesel in a fun and creative way, and engaged in supporting energy independence for the College and County. The burden on waste management infrastructure will be reduced as former waste grease is instead recycled into biofuels. We will all be able to breathe a little easier as each new vehicle is transitioned from petroleum diesel to cleaner-burning and renewable biodiesel.

4.0 Budget

The biodiesel tanker truck will add a critical element to our existing Haywood County Biodiesel PET Project. We are therefore following our tanker truck budget with the existing PET Project budget, to provide a context for the tanker request and demonstrate existing support for this larger initiative.

F450 Biodiesel Tanker Truck - $47,179

Haywood County Biodiesel PET Project - $216,143 already committed

Description Amount Source

Staffing, Reactors,

Course Development

and Public Outreach $135,842 Biofuels Center of NC

Personnel, facilities

and overhead $41,718 Haywood Community College

Personnel, equipment

and facilities $33,080 Haywood County Recycling

& Solid Waste Management

Personnel, equipment

and facilities $1,500 NC Cooperative Extension Service

Cash, pending 2009

budget approval $4,000 Southwestern RC&D Council

5.0 Cost Effectiveness

Cost effectiveness is $10,114/ton of air pollution reduced.

6.0 Permanence of Benefits

Seven vehicles are currently targeted for this project. Remaining life expectancy is as follows:

20 years: V5/Requested F450 Tanker

10 years: V1/HCRSWM 05 F450 Hauler

V2/HCC 99 Freightliner

V4/HCC 96 John Deere 870 Farm Tractor

V7/HCC 96 John Deere F1145 Lawn Tractor

5 years: V3/HCC 94 Ford 3930 Farm Tractor

V6/HCC 91 Steiner 423 Lawn Tractor

These vehicles fill pragmatic roles in our facility operations, and therefore when phased out will be replaced with new vehicles that can use biodiesel. The project and its resulting air quality and waste management benefits will continue beyond the life of the specific vehicles currently slated for retrofit for as long as we have the tanker, and will increase with each additional vehicle for which we are able to produce biofuel.

As more automobiles and equipment are fueled by biodiesel or other biofuels, there will be a demand for trained professionals to maintain and repair machinery and engines as well as technicians capable of installing and operating biofuels refinery and distribution equipment. By integrating biofuels production and training into the Industrial and Automotive Technology Programs at Haywood Community College, students will obtain requisite background in the installation, maintenance, and operational production of biodiesel which will make them more marketable for their careers.

By using fuel produced by the project in HCC’s campus vehicles, this project will move Haywood Community College forward in its efforts as a local and regional leader in sustainable development technology demonstration and education. By involving HCC students and Haywood County residents, it will excite and engage them in the growing biofuels sector. By integrating the production of biofuels on campus, some long-term impacts of the proposed project beyond the duration of the funding period include securing a sustainable and efficient fuel source for some campus vehicles. The waste oil recycled from the County Schools and College café will be recycled and used to fuel vehicles leading to savings on fuel expenses and reducing emissions.

7.0 Timetable

*With the current state of the automotive industry, it is difficult to predict what local automotive inventories will be at the time of contract, whether a truck will be available locally or must be delivered, and how long that will take.

8.0 Evaluation

For purposes of evaluation, project outcomes will be tracked throughout the grant term based on collection, production, emissions reduction, and outreach/public exposure metrics. Specifically:

• Quantities and sources of waste oil/feedstock will be tracked to monitor consumption.

• Gallons of biodiesel produced and used to fuel college and county vehicles will be monitored and cash savings/economic impact calculated.

• Emissions reductions for the project will be recalculated at the end of the grant period with the EPA Quantifier Tool, based on actual production and vehicle usage.

• Tanker mileage and public appearances will be recorded.

• The number of students enrolled in biofuels short-courses and existing curriculum courses where biofuels production is integrated will be measured. Participation from the agricultural community participating in workshops (hosted by North Carolina Cooperative Extension) on biofuel crop production and extraction will also be tracked.

9.0 Appendix

Example input screen for a 2005 F450 hauler. For other on-road vehicles, similar inputs were used.

Example input screen for a 1996 John Deere F1145 lawn tractor. For other non-road vehicles, similar inputs were used.

Please note that for our nonroad vehicles, the actual HPs were not listed among the available options. We therefore chose the nearest possible option available in the quantifier. Specifically:

• V3 is a 60HP farm tractor; we listed it as “Agricultural Tractors” at 50 HP

• V4 is a 35HP farm tractor; we listed it as “Agricultural Tractors” at 40 HP.

• V6 is an 8HP lawn tractor; we listed it as “Other Agricultural Equipment” at 11 HP

• V7 is a 12HP lawn tractor; we listed it as “Other Agricultural Equipment” at 11 HP

This approximation had minimal impact on our results since these vehicles collectively comprise only .04 of the 3.51 total lifetime ton reduction of this project.