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Biodiesel bus
The caretakers of the biodiesel bus, L-R: Chelsea Hummon, Laura Becerra, Jeff Butts, and Derek Kanwischer. In the foreground are Riley Morley and Zach Beasley, area kids at the Garfield County Fair.
The bright green school bus drove by, but it wasn’t on its way to pick up or drop off kids at school. The biodiesel-powered bus belongs to the Homegrown Prosperity Renewable Energy Bus Tour and it swung through the Garfield County Fair on Aug. 1.
“We need to show everyone how important all this is for our futures. Our dependence on fossil fuels can’t last forever,” biodiesel and sustainability coordinator Derek Kanwischer said.
“Biofuels from biomass are sustainable and renewable. The wind blows, the sun shines, and the plants grow.”
Working through a seven-state trip, the Homegrown Prosperity tour touts renewable energy, sustainable biofuels, local foods, and overall energy efficiency - all while driving a biodiesel school bus.
The group is based out of Billings, Mont., with four dedicated souls manning the bus this summer: team leader Laura Becerra, communications director and local foods liaison Chelsea Hummon, technical coordinator Jeff Butts, and Kanwischer.
Along the tour, they stop at biodiesel fuel stations and evaluate them through report cards. So far, they’ve only had one station out of nine let them look at how they operate, in South Dakota.
“This is more of a challenge that we anticipated,” Butts said. “There are a few stations out there, but some of them didn’t want to work with us.”
Homegrown Prosperity and the local grassroots Grand Valley Citizens’ Alliance worked together at the fair to help get the word out on sustainable energies.
“I think there is a real need for education and outreach to other similar citizens,” community organizer Frank Smith with the citizens’ alliance said. “We’re convinced that people are concerned. We’re talking about the same lands that we care deeply about. It doesn’t matter if you’re a landowner or a concerned citizen.”
“The community involvement in rural areas like this is essential,” Hummon said. “Especially around the sustainable living points, where there are ranches and farms that can produce goods that can be used locally.”
Contact Baron Zahuranec at 384-9173 or by E-mail at bzahuranec@citizentelegram.com.
“We need to show everyone how important all this is for our futures. Our dependence on fossil fuels can’t last forever,” biodiesel and sustainability coordinator Derek Kanwischer said.
“Biofuels from biomass are sustainable and renewable. The wind blows, the sun shines, and the plants grow.”
Working through a seven-state trip, the Homegrown Prosperity tour touts renewable energy, sustainable biofuels, local foods, and overall energy efficiency - all while driving a biodiesel school bus.
The group is based out of Billings, Mont., with four dedicated souls manning the bus this summer: team leader Laura Becerra, communications director and local foods liaison Chelsea Hummon, technical coordinator Jeff Butts, and Kanwischer.
Along the tour, they stop at biodiesel fuel stations and evaluate them through report cards. So far, they’ve only had one station out of nine let them look at how they operate, in South Dakota.
“This is more of a challenge that we anticipated,” Butts said. “There are a few stations out there, but some of them didn’t want to work with us.”
Homegrown Prosperity and the local grassroots Grand Valley Citizens’ Alliance worked together at the fair to help get the word out on sustainable energies.
“I think there is a real need for education and outreach to other similar citizens,” community organizer Frank Smith with the citizens’ alliance said. “We’re convinced that people are concerned. We’re talking about the same lands that we care deeply about. It doesn’t matter if you’re a landowner or a concerned citizen.”
“The community involvement in rural areas like this is essential,” Hummon said. “Especially around the sustainable living points, where there are ranches and farms that can produce goods that can be used locally.”
Contact Baron Zahuranec at 384-9173 or by E-mail at bzahuranec@citizentelegram.com.
