Food for thought

In case you missed it, read the story in the Spokesman-Review today about the new biodiesel plant called Inland Empire Seeds in Odessa, west of Spokane. While biodiesel remains a controversial alternative energy source, check this curious passage: Doug Bartlett is the CEO and president of the five-month-old Spokane County Biodiesel, which hopes to produce biodiesel out of used restaurant oil and grease by next spring. “With waste vegetable oil, we are taking a recycled product and we make a fuel out of it,” Bartlett said. He said using waste oil instead of virgin oil leads to a higher energy yield when all costs are taken into consideration. Spokane County Biodiesel plans to produce about 1 million gallons of biodiesel a year by converting used cooking oils and other vegetable grease from local restaurants and dining halls. Does that mean DTE can feel better about eating at a certain local greasy spoon? Yes we can. French Fries=biodiesel. What a country. Anyways, stay tuned for Inland Empire Oilseeds news (and any white laboratory coats near the Satellite Diner). www.inlandempireoilseeds.com