[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 40 (Monday, March 10, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S1816]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              RECOGNIZING THE BIRCH RUN BIODIESEL PROJECT

 Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I recently visited Birch Run High 
School in Michigan to learn about its biodiesel project. This project 
is an innovative, forward-thinking endeavor, and I am proud that young 
people in Michigan are making strides to understand and begin to solve 
some of our Nation's most pressing concerns.
  The biodiesel project was initiated in the second semester of the 
2007-2008 school year at Birch Run by Mrs. Jan Pollard, a chemistry 
teacher at the school. Mrs. Pollard was instrumental in helping the 
school secure the funding necessary to establish this project by 
approaching officials associated with the Watershed Initiative 
Network--WIN--grant program. She wrote and submitted a proposal for 
$10,000 to WIN, which was ultimately approved.
  The biodiesel project is a part of a comprehensive effort that 
includes a greenhouse and a bee keeping component. The students 
currently working on the biodiesel project include Ross Fredenburg, the 
team leader; Derek Bentley; Ryan Johnson; and Dillon Fredenburg, the 
apprentice leader for the 2008-2009 school year. These students have 
completed all the construction work, installed the necessary equipment, 
and run the project, including all manufacturing and testing of the 
biodiesel fuel. They obtain, at no cost, used vegetable oil from the 
school and from local restaurants to convert to biodiesel fuel. The 
project has produced approximately 200 gallons of biodiesel fuel thus 
far. By next year, the school expects to be able to provide biodiesel 
fuel for its entire 26-bus fleet.
  This exciting project has the support of many in the community, 
including Birch Run School Superintendent Wayne Wright, Birch Run 
Principal Mike Baszler and members of the Birch Run School Board. Mrs. 
Pollard and her students have tirelessly worked on the many aspects of 
this project. And, most importantly, these students have been provided 
an excellent opportunity to pursue practical and timely solutions that 
will benefit the school, the environment, and their community.
  Indeed, these young people have embarked on an important endeavor. As 
a Nation, we must increase the diversity of our energy sources and 
enhance our Nation's energy independence. Biodiesel provides a part of 
the solution to our energy needs. It has the potential to improve our 
Nation's energy independence in the near term by replacing some of the 
oil we import from abroad with homegrown, sustainable biofuels. 
Utilizing this fuel source could reduce our impact on the environment 
and slow changes to our climate that will otherwise threaten our 
future. With this new technology, we could dramatically reduce carbon 
dioxide emissions and help create jobs as well as spur our economy.
  I know my colleagues will share my enthusiasm in recognizing everyone 
affiliated with the biodiesel project at Birch Run High School. I look 
forward to hearing about their many successes in the future.

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