The National Automotive Technician Education Foundation (NATEF) awarded Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) accreditation to curriculum developed by the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) to educate technicians on the performance of biodiesel blends and how they affect engines.
Schools can now officially use the biodiesel program as core curriculum for diesel technicians, and the class counts for credits towards as well as Continuing Education Units. NBB said biodiesel enhances energy security, supports 39,000 American jobs and reduces carbon emissions by 80 percent. It is listed in the federal Renewable Fuels Programs as the only commercially available, EPA-certified “advanced biofuel.”
“NBB had the foresight to recognize that educating diesel technicians early is critical to its mission of increasing public acceptance of biodiesel, a relatively new fuel,” said Rachel Burton, a diesel technician who leads the NBB program. “Knowledge is power.”
NBB developed the training program in 2008 to advises customers and technicians on the true impacts of using biodiesel in diesel equipment and how biodiesel reduces harmful emissions into the environment as well as a dependence on foreign oil.
“We are delighted to have the National Biodiesel Board as an accredited training organization- it is important to have good technical information to educate the next generation of diesel technicians in advanced biofuels,” said Dave Milne, president of ASE’s Automotive Training Managers Council, when presenting the award to NBB.
The Iowa Biodiesel Board was an early partner in implementing the curriculum to more than 1,000 students at community colleges across the state. NBB said 74 percent of students report that they now are “fairly knowledgeable” or “very knowledgeable” about biodiesel compared to 33 percent who previously responded the same.
“People listen to their automotive technicians, and if there is an information gap there, techs are not likely to recommend biodiesel to their customers,” said Randy Olson, executive director of the Iowa Biodiesel Board. “We’ve already seen this program having an impact in Iowa. It really is mission-critical to the future of biodiesel’s success. We hope other states will be able to replicate what we have done in Iowa.”
