Key West High School Alternative Energy Center

"Through the production of biodiesel, solar panels, and other "green" science, our students will have the opportunity to experience science, not simply read about it." Josh Clearman

Kudos to Monroe County School Board for putting science and technology into action in Key West High School. The Alternative Energy Center allows high school students to learn and apply the sciences into technology that is being used IN THE SCHOOL.

Moreover, this community is learning that educating their students can have practical value. The solar panels on the AEC alone will save the school district the cost of a teacher's annual salary.

The biodiesel program has been nominated by GLEE (Florida Keys Green Living & Energy Education) for their Annual Green Living Awards. Physics teacher Josh Clearman and his honors class of 25 students have built their own 80-gallon biodiesel processor on campus this year. They collect used cooking oil from Key West restaurants and turn it into fuel for a 1985 Mercedes Benz they bought as a class project.

"We use 100,000 gallons of diesel fuel every year in the district," Clearman said."Right now it costs $3.59 per gallon. We can make it for around $2 per gallon."

Clearman and his class made quite an impression at a March, 2008 Biodiesel Road Rally from Florida City to Key West.

Key West High School