Cook-Illinois Provides "Fresh Air" for
Thousands of Chicago Area Children

OAK FOREST, Ill., Sept. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Thousands of Chicago area schoolchildren are breathing cleaner air, thanks to a blended fuel containing soybean oil now being used in city and suburban school buses.

Cook-Illinois Corporation was the first school bus service in Illinois to switch to B20 biodiesel fuel, which reduces the hazardous exhaust emissions by 15-20 percent. Operating more than 1,400 school buses in 26 communities, the company is the largest bus fleet in the country to use the healthier alternative and environmentally-friendly fuel.

Because of these efforts, Cook-Illinois Corporation was just named a "Clean Bus Leader" by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute and the National Clean Bus Network. This is in recognition of the company's commitment to help improve public health, reduce our nation's dependence upon foreign petroleum supplies, minimize greenhouse gases, and protect the environment.

Cook-Illinois Corporation buses are using soy-based biodiesel fuel as part of the "Illinois Clean School Bus Program," developed and administered by Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. The purpose of the program is to provide a healthier environment for children by reducing the emissions from diesel-powered school buses and improve the air quality in local communities.

"Every day, families entrust us with the safety of their children," says John Benish, Jr., COO of Cook-Illinois Corp. "As a Chicago leader in alternative fuels, we wanted to be the first to improve the air quality and provide a cleaner and safer atmosphere for school children."

Studies have shown that children riding school buses are exposed to higher level of emissions than other children. The inhalation of exhaust emissions from petroleum diesel fuel on a consistent basis has been linked to asthma and other illnesses. Biodiesel fuel, a soy-based product distributed by BioEnergy Supply, LLC in conjunction with Hartney Fuel Oil Company, is a renewable fuel alternative for diesel engines that reduces exhaust emissions, minimizes black exhaust smoke, odor, carbon monoxide, and other pollutants.

Biodiesel fuel is used in the following communities served by Cook-Illinois Corp: Chicago Gary, IN Alsip Homewood Park Forest Country Club Hills Hazel Crest Lynwood Park Ridge Arlington Hts. Mount Prospect Waukegan Gurnee Oak Forest Tinley Park Crete South Holland Markham Chicago Heights Calumet City Flossmoor Lansing Lynwood Sauk Village Steger Matteson