Since AAMCO Transmissions in State College generates waste oil through automotive oil changes, repair, and maintenance, they thought it would make good business sense to install a waste oil burner and use the waste oil to heat the building. This would reduce their natural gas needs and also eliminate waste oil disposal costs. Furthermore, the use of waste oil as an energy source would help to offset future energy cost fluctuations.

Rodney Hendricks, owner of the AAMCO Transmissions State College franchise, turned to EMAP to help make his idea a reality. Working with EMAP consultant Heather Fennessey of the Penn State SBDC, Rodney applied for a Small Business Advantage Grant (SBAG) in July 2005. EMAP helped Rodney through the grant application process including performing required calculations and estimates. Within six months, in December 2005, DEP announced that AAMCO received the full eligible amount of $5,625, and Rodney was able to purchase and install the waste oil burner.

AAMCO projects that they will initially burn 2,200 gallons of waste oil per year, effectively eliminating it from their waste stream. The business will save 300 MCF of natural gas annually and avoid all waste oil disposal costs, leading to over $4,000 in annual savings! With the help of the SBAG funds, this project has a mere 2.8 year payback.

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"This program works and is exactly what Pennsylvania should invest in to keep us competitive.”

- Rodney Hendricks, Owner
AAMCO Transmissions, State College