The Clean Air Choice® Biodiesel Scholarship contest, which has sent winning high school seniors in Minnesota off to college with some extra cash for the past seven years, has added a new video option this year.  Students may submit either a brief (1,000 words or less) essay or a brief (three minutes or less) video about biodiesel to the American Lung Association in Minnesota. Rules and online applications are available at www.CleanAirChoice.org.

All entries will be judged on the following criteria: accuracy of information; a thorough understanding of biodiesel and its uses; and creative thinking and original ideas on biodiesel.

Two scholarships will be awarded: a first place award of $1,000 and a second place award of $500.  All high school seniors in Minnesota public or private schools are eligible for the scholarship. All essays and videos must be submitted no later than 4:30 p.m. on Friday, April 7, 2017.  The scholarship is sponsored by the Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council.

Biodiesel is an alternative to petroleum diesel that is produced from vegetable oils, recycled cooking oil, municipal waste-water residue oil or animal fats. Using biodiesel instead of traditional petroleum diesel fuel can reduce our use of fossil fuels and emissions, including particulate pollution, air toxics and lifecycle carbon dioxide emissions associated with global climate change. The greenhouse gas emissions reduced by Minnesota’s use of biodiesel blends is equivalent to removing 128,000 passenger vehicles from Minnesota’s roads each year.