NC Senator Stan Bingham is driving on veggie oil

See following brief published in the Raleigh News and Observer. We met with Senator Stan Bingham ( Republican/Davidson Co)a while back and encourged his interest in used vegetable oil as fuel for his car AND additionally explained that his support and interest in utilizing biodiesel as well asstraight vegetable oil would go a long way in raising awareness about this alternative fuel.
In my option straight vegetable oil (SVO) is a good idea and works well for the do it yourself types but biodiesel offers more promise for more widespread use.
Biodiesel offers numerouns benefits over SVO such as:
~ requires no conversion of diesel vehicle ( unlike SVO operated vehicles which must be modified)
~ has endured Tier 1 and Tier II EPA health effects testing ( the only fuel that has undertaken this rigourous testing
~ undertaken numerous emission tests
~ won the endorsement of major auto manufacturers
Still its a great step that Sen Bingham has undertaken in converting his car to run on SVO and he should be commended for his concerns about the environmenet and our reliance on imported oil



Legislator to drive veggie carJanuary 2, 2006
www.newsobserver.com/102/story/384082.html

While the rest of us watch gasoline prices rise and fall, Sen. Stan Bingham is keeping an eye out for burned hush puppy residue that could foul his fuel. When the legislative session starts next year, Bingham plans to make his commute from Davidson County to Raleigh in a Volkswagen Beetle that runs on vegetable oil.

Other drivers won't be close enough to smell the french-fry odor, but they'll be able to spot the message on the sides of Bingham's blue car: "Hello soybean and good-bye OPEC. Powered by soybean oil."

Bingham, a Republican, said the car is his protest against high oil prices. He likes it that it is easy on the environment.

The car runs on both diesel and the vegetable oil Bingham gets free from a local restaurant. It's stuff the restaurant usually has to pay to get hauled away, he said. Bingham uses diesel to start the car, then switches over to grease.

He gets 40 miles per gallon on oil, and he figures that fuel costs for his Raleigh commute will cost him next to nothing. There's a side benefit for passersby who like smelling fried food.

"My little dogs love this car," he said.