A local construction company is preparing to open a new 3 million-gallon biodiesel plant in hopes of turning Tucson’s used cooking oil into a valuable commodity for the community.
The company hopes to persuade local restaurants, which generate more than 40,000 gallons of used cooking oil per month, to make their grease benefit the area through a program called Enjoy Dining Green.
“The biggest expense with alternative fuels is shipping these fuels by rail from outside of Arizona,” said Colleen Crowninshield, manager of the clean-cities program. “If we can produce them right here in our own cities and use them here, we would cut down on a huge transportation cost.”
(READ more of the AP story in Tri-Valley Dispatch )
That’s a really creative idea- thanks for posting, Geri- take care, drive extra safe, and God bless all of you!!!:-)
This is typical of the Good News’ Network’s naivete. Wake up, people – just because someone says something’s green doesn’t mean it’s good!!!! A few years ago, ethanol plants were being hailed as the “green” alternative to gasoline – until scientists pointed out the unforunate fact that the process of creating this “green fuel,” together with emissions from burning ethanol, actually made ethanol a greater “net pollluter” than oil and gas. Who knows what wastes are generated from this new “green fuel?” Is there anybody out there with the sense to ask questions anymore? Or if someone says “green,” do you all just stand up and cheer?
It is easy for me to see that some technologies may be 100% green and some 60% green. Others may be bridge technologies that are steps along the way towards a totally green world.
Also, to be said is: this cooking oil exists, how shall we deal with it? Making no or low bi-product energy looks pretty good.
Colinr – please take your negative attitude elsewhere. In the least this process stops U.S. dollars from going overseas for oil, doesn’t end up funding terrorism, shows the entrepreneurial spirit of what can be done in our free society, and maybe leaves only the smell of french fries.