Train Runs on Used Vegetable Oil
Thursday, June 7th, 2007A train fueled by used vegetable oil left London for Wales today. It is the culmination of efforts by Richard Branson the billionaire who has pledged to help fight global warming. When the train arrives in Wales it may possibly be refueled at the first community based bio-fuel plant in the U.K. that utilizes used vegetable oil versus ethanol made from corn.
An article in BBC News, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/3741184.stm, reports, “Sundance Renewables, a co-operative in Ammanford, will produce over 300,000 liters of the “green” fuel a year.” The article went on to say that it is hoped the plant will encourage other small communities throughout Wales to produce their own bio fuels. The co-op is registered as a waste carrier. It will be able to collect used vegetable oil from fast food places, restaurants, pubs, schools, wherever vegetable oil is used to fry food. This is a two-fold gain for the environment. Not only is it a cost effective, renewable source of fuel for the train and other vehicles, it eliminates oil that may find its way into sewer systems, and eventually lakes and streams.
Since Sundance Renewables is a low cost, community co-op they are presently looking for volunteer drivers to collect the used oil. As demand and production increases, the company may no longer have to rely on volunteers, but will be able to offer paid employment in the community. It is so new that prospective customers still have the opportunity to register as “preferred,” which guarantees they will always get the bio-fuel they need.
The article said, “The company also runs training courses for people who want to set up their own bio-diesel plant.” Hear that entrepreneurs of America? My question is what is wrong with America? A little country like Wales is taking the bull by the horns and forging ahead with small community efforts to make a difference for the environment and their citizen’s pocketbooks. It’s not even a new idea here in America. Willie Nelson has been recycling used vegetable oil for fuel in all of his vehicles to include his huge touring buses for years. I read about a class of students here who were trained to collect, modify, and use vegetable oil from fast food places to fuel their school buses. So why isn’t it catching on everywhere? Why are we stuck on ethanol? Obviously, it will be easier to raise the price of corn and tax the ethanol. To me this is just more evidence of the wealth and power of our oil companies, like Exxon Mobil, being used to squelch any type of innovation that might interrupt their mega profits of $75,000 per minute last year. And those were net profits folks.
Of course, as with anything brand new, the bio fuel from used vegetable oil, has spawned further innovation by motorists in Wales that is causing a problem for tax collectors there. It seems with or without a plant to buy the used vegetable oil; many motorists are simply putting ordinary frying pan oil in their diesel fuel tanks to cut costs knowing full well they are committing an offense. All cars on public roads in Wales must pay fuel tax. The taxation system is not up to par with this newest innovation. Cooking oil is not taxed yet as motorist fuel. The use of frying pan oil is so widespread that there is a police crackdown for rogue motorists and they could face up to 7 years in jail for repeated offenses.
Willie Nelson should count his blessings he’s not a Welsh citizen or else the taxman cometh again.