At corporate headquarters on Pluto, KFC announced it was going to non-hydrogenated oil the same week that their Silver City, New Mexico manager said I could come haul as much of their grease as I wanted. (See the March 28 posting for background on my veggie oil-powered ROAT, the Ridiculously Oversized American Truck)
It had been decades since I had visited the establishment — I had no idea they offered apple turnovers these days. I pulled up in front of the Colonel’s portrait/security camera, found the dumpster and grease trap area, and before I had finished setting up my pump, an employee wearing a doo-rag approached me, carrying an armload of garbage bags. I was wearing latex gloves and had driven a huge truck up to a staff-only area. I looked more like an esoteric pervert than a thief. I felt I had to take the initiative.
Before he could say anything, I blurted guiltily, “Christie said I could take your waste oil off your hands.”
He looked at me as if I’d just said, “I have an imaginary friend named Snuffleupagus.”
“Um. OK with me, Holmes,” he said, and then a thought occurred to him. “What for?”
“I’m gonna drive on it.”
He watched my pump suck the sickly ooze into a five gallon container.
“Whoa. Do you just pour it right in your tank?”
“Nah, I have sort of a laboratory back home, in my barn. It’s pretty easy though.”
“And then all your gas is free? That (expletive deleted) rules. Where do I get one?”
And so another crunchy greenie was converted. Hallelujah!
But it was only a start. They say a preacher should feel satisfied if he converts one person during a sermon. While I was filling up, no less than eight employees gathered around, alone or in clusters, marveling at someone driving on grease. It was like a tent revival out there. I found myself preaching about things carbon-neutrality and oil company profits. Two guys in aprons asked me to take their picture near the grease trap.
By the way, vegetable oil driving isn’t technically free. I have to pay state and federal gas taxes (21 cents per gallon to Santa Fe, and 18.4 cents to Washington, DC) on the honor system. Not bad when diesel costs around $3 per gallon. And that’s keeping aside the carbon-neutral karma.
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6 Responses:
May 20th, 2007 at 7:13 pm
Hi! I am enjoying your blog! I feel like I’m reconnecting with you, but I thought I needed to leave a comment once in a while so you can feel the same–I hope…
At my current school (a Waldorf school (familiar with it?)), a few years ago, a senior did his year-long senior project on bio-diesel fuel and built something–either an engine or whatever is needed to process the oil. I missed his presentation, but I think there are a few converts in the area. Actually, I think they may use this fuel source for some of the farm machinery on the 400 acre biodynamic farm affiliated with my school.
I do own a car that uses gas–I just finished paying for it. When I move to Canada, I will use it less and less thanks to public transportation–one of the benefits of city living. I will soooo miss the stars here though…bet you see unbelievable skies where you are!!
May 20th, 2007 at 7:43 pm
It is so wonderful to re-connect with you as well. It’s hard to place most things that happend last year, let alone in high school, but you were not just a true friend but also so fun to hang out with. I just remember tons of laughter.
Meanwhile, yep, I’m familiar with Waldorf, though I get its curriculum confused with some of the other designer educational philosophies (Montesorri, Branch Dividian). I think the goal is to educate kids, though, right?
Bio-diesel is cool: it comes from the other direction as the straight veggie oil I run on: I modify my engine so it’ll run on veggie. Bio-diesel chemists modify the veggie oil so it’ll run in a regular diesel engine. So I can still use it, because my truck starts on diesel and converts to the veggie tank when it heats up.
Meanwhile, yes, the stars are incomparable here. You really get a sense of the galaxy you’re in.
Shoot me an email about your Canadian plans. I love Canada — I lived 39 miles from the British Columbia border in Alaska for several years. It’s like America without the current climate of fear.
June 7th, 2007 at 9:05 am
great article d. how many miles to the wing/ thigh
/breast d’ya get.
love the pix of the homeys
gratzi
h
June 7th, 2007 at 10:52 am
I think on my last tank of veggie oil I got about 14 miles to the gallon (which was over 1,300 miles of driving). My veggie mechanic Kevin tells me with some tweaks on his end we can bump it to 18. See ya soon, Herbie!
August 5th, 2008 at 10:00 am
I want to know if it is more cost effective for me to order a side of biscuits or put a gallon of gas in my car. lol