St. John's, Michigan Public Schools

Wayne Hettler, a school bus fleet manager for St. Johns Public Schools, St. Johns, Mich., convinced his district to switch to B20 in 2002. The buses have since clocked more than 3 million miles on B20.

Hettler says when the district started in 2002, he was looking for a solution to replace some of the fuel lubrication that was lost when the fuel companies started taking some fo the sulfur out of the fuel.

"We were pleasantly surprised with the results," Hettler said. "We quickly noticed that the whole fleet ran better and smelled much better. Our drivers, staff, and the public were very happy without the exhaust smoke and smell."

His enthusiasm for biodiesel has helped inspire other fleets make the switch. He has talked to many school districts and other fleets from across the US, offering technical advice and support. Hettler also partnered with NBB to provide detailed data on maintenance. His records showed that thanks to fewer oil changes and not needing to buy fuel conditioner, his fleet saved money with biodiesel.

In 2010, the National Biodiesel Board presented Hettler with the Inspiration Award.

2010