by Bryan Bender
Daily Lobo
The goal of Project Green Bus, sponsored by the UNM College Green Party, is to raise funds to convert a 15-passenger diesel bus to run on vegetable oil.
Fund raising for the project took place at "Hanging with the Greens" on Friday night in the SUB. The event featured a clean energy advocate, poetry, musicians and a silent auction selling donated art.
James Shore of Liberty Fuel will convert the bus once the goal of $3,700 is reached.
Shore said vegetable oil has "the exact same efficiency as diesel and ranks higher in energy output than propane or natural gas."
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The conversion also will result in 70 percent to 80 percent fewer harmful emissions than diesel, and vegetable oil can be obtained for free from local restaurants, he said.
The diesel van will cost $3,000, and the conversion to vegetable oil will cost $700 for a second fuel tank and heating line, Shore said.
The heating line is required because vegetable oil is thicker than diesel and must be heated to 150-170 degrees Fahrenheit to have the same consistency. The second tank is needed to store the vegetable oil because the primary tank is still needed for diesel fuel.
The van must be started on diesel fuel to warm the vegetable oil and then it must be stopped on diesel to flush the system to prevent the fuel system from becoming clogged with congealed vegetable oil, Shore said.
Trey Smith, president of the campus Green Party, said he first heard of the conversion at a peace conference in North Carolina. Smith said he intends to bring the project to New Mexico and use the bus "as an educational tool around the state, community and campus for clean and renewable energy."
The Greens raised $300 from donations and $200 from the art auction. To reach its goal, the Greens are planning two more fundraisers featuring similar activities, Smith said, adding that plans for a rock-themed fundraiser also are on the drawing board.
"We sent out letters to local businesses for financial support of the project." vice president Claire Long said. "We hope the clean energy focus and name association will encourage support in the community."
Campus Green Party member Colin Husson said he wants to continue raising awareness for the project by word of mouth and fliers.
"We're happy about the turnout of poets, authors and musicians," Campus Green Joan Gable said. "There is a lot of support for alternative energy in the community."
