Hi my name is Lindsay Hassett, aka Betty Biodiesel. This campaign was born out of my quest to create cleaner air for kids after learning about how badly polluting the inside of our school buses were. I matched that to what I was learning about Biodiesel in 2001 and on and found a niche of opportunity to voice what was needed.

  The inspiration: One night, I met an eager 8 year old boy names Shannon who was attending a biodiesel info event at New College. When I looked into his eager eyes, I suddenly thought that school buses were equipped with diesel engines and these buses would be an ideal place to use biodiesel.

What I didn't know at that time, were the five independent studies done by prestigious scientific groups about the harmful effects of diesel emissions inside the school bus. This information coupled with knowing that Biodiesel made from waste vegetable oil could reduce this indoor air emission problem made me quest for more information about this problem.

I was both saddened by the findings that diesel emissions were leaking into the buses and contributing to health issues such as asthma and lung cancer. I was also encouraged that something could be done about this problem today through the use of Biodiesel. While all the studies I read recommended school districts adopt anti-idling policies, add particulate filters, change fleet technology to compressed natural gas, and other options, none recommended blending Biodiesel. Due to budget cuts in '82, schools have not had the funds to purchase new buses or retrofit them with filters or use the more expensive Biodiesel additive. And yet dozens of schools around the US have made the choice and are blending Biodiesel with their diesel to offset the emissions. Some bus managers are even finding they have to change the oil less. Biodiesel is an alternative fuel that is gaining wider acceptance by school bus fleets across the US.

Please offer us whatever support you can in helping this campaign reach every school district transportation department across the US, asking for change to the way we transport our most precious cargo...our kids!

Peace thru grease,

Betty Biodiesel