The Biodiesel Project is a fundamental part of Dickinson 's commitment to environmental sustainability. The project makes use of a waste product, while reducing the campus demand for non-renewable petroleum fuel. Biodiesel fuel is significantly cleaner burning than petroleum, and its use thereby helps to reduce air quality problems in the Cumberland Valley (The US EPA has found that Biodiesel drastically reduces soot, diesel particulate matter, carbon monoxide, oxides of sulfur, and carcinogenic hydrocarbons when compared with petroleum diesel). Production and use of biodiesel results in an 80% lifecycle reduction of carbon dioxide emissions when compared with fossil fuels, which aids in our campus goal of reducing our impact on global climate change. And lastly, biodiesel production on site from waste fryer oil is very energy efficient: we gain over 6 units of energy in fuel for every one unit of non-renewable energy invested in the process.

Located in the Facilities Management building near main campus, the biodiesel plant provides an excellent hands-on educational resource for students and campus personnel. By combining concepts from Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Environmental Science, and Biology with practical skills in pipe fitting, plumbing, carpentry, mechanics, and electrical systems, the biodiesel plant gives students real-world experience as they learn. The support of the project by staff experts from the campus plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and vehicle maintenance shops ensures that systems are state-of-the-art, efficient, and safe to operate. The Biodiesel Project is an example of how academic disciplines can collaborate with campus operations to meet physical needs of the College, while providing a valuable educational experience. The plant is primarily run by trained students, with supervision by dedicated staff members.