South Carolina high school receives grant from Dominion Energy for biodiesel program

The Blythewood High School Bengal Biodiesel Lab held an open house during its grand opening March 18, 2022, on National Biodiesel Day. (Photo: Richland School District Two)

In late January Dominion Energy announced that the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation has awarded more than $236,000 in environmental stewardship grants to 15 organizations across South Carolina.

One of the grant recipients was Blythewood High School’s Bengal Biodiesel program, which officially opened its new laboratory last year on National Biodiesel Day, March 18.

The program supports a chemistry class taught by Will Epps that allows students to work together and learn the ins and outs of recycling used cooking oil and chemically converting the material into biodiesel fuel.

The student-run laboratory produces biodiesel, connects students with local industry, and increases student knowledge on environmentally friendly practices.

The class has increased production capacity over the past two years from 1 gallon per week to 150 gallons per week.

New furniture with the Bengal Biodiesel Lab processor in the background (Photo: Richland School District Two)

Richland School District Two in Blythewood, South Carolina, told Biobased Diesel Daily that the $5,000 grant from Dominion Energy “was used to buy furniture to transfer the classroom into a real-world industrial space for classroom instruction and analytical purposes.”

Part of the grant will also go for student-made marketing materials.

“The Bengal Biodiesel program is a stellar example of partnership between industry, students and innovative learning,” said Nancy Gregory, the interim superintendent for Richland School District Two. “We are so grateful that Dominion has seen the value of this program and is helping us further the impact on our community with this generous grant.”

Dominion Energy Environmental Education and Stewardship grants are given to eligible nonprofits and schools for projects that work to create a cleaner, greener world and teach citizens of all ages to better care for the outdoors.

The foundation provided more than $1.3 million in environmental stewardship grants to support organizations across eight states in Dominion Energy's service territory.

“Dominion Energy is proud to partner with these organizations that make South Carolina beautiful from the mountains to the sea,” said Keller Kissam, president of Dominion Energy South Carolina. “From preserving protected habitats to making nature more accessible for our fellow South Carolinians, it's a privilege to partner with groups who are committed to supporting sustainable programs that will preserve and enhance the communities where we live and work for generations to come.”

Since 2006, the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation has donated $40 million to a wide variety of environmental projects across its footprint.

For more information about the Bengal Biodiesel program in Blythewood, South Carolina, click here.