Wachusett Recycling Cooking Oil Into Biofuel

[Mark_151]

http://www.telegram.com/article/20071202/NEWS/712020433/1101

Ski area is green

Cooking oil is recycled for biofuel

By Sandy Meindersma CORRESPONDENT




PRINCETON— Ah, the smell of fresh snow, mountain air and … french fries? Yes, it’s possible, if you’re skiing at the Wachusett Mountain Ski Area.

Beginning this year, the ski area will be recycling 2,500 gallons of cooking oil from the base lodge restaurants and neighboring Wachusett Village Inn and converting it to biofuel.

The ski area is one of only three in the Northeast to convert 100 percent of its waste oil into biofuel.

The biofuel will help to power the mountain’s five Snow Cats and four snow removal vehicles, and provide backup power to the ski area’s lift engines.

“If skiers or riders get a sudden urge for french fries when they see a grooming vehicle on the slopes, now they’ll know why,” said General Manager David Crowley.

The 2,500 gallons represents about 20 percent of the ski area’s fuel consumption. Each gallon of biofuel produces only about half the harmful emissions of traditional diesel fuel.

“This is just the latest in a long list of environmental projects we have in place,” said Thomas Meyers, marketing director. “It was a logical next step in the ongoing process to be as environmentally friendly as possible.”

Other environmental projects include capturing the heat generated by the snowmaking compressors and using it to heat the base lodge, and sponsoring the “Ski Train” with the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority to allow skiers from the Boston area to leave their cars at home when they come skiing.

The ski area also gives a percentage of its gross receipts to the State Land Acquisition Trust Fund, which is dedicated to the purchase and preservation of open space.

“We take our role as stewards of the land very seriously,” Mr. Crowley said.

There also is a cost saving of about a dollar per gallon, Mr. Meyers said, but that statistic is “not as significant as it is that we are burning less fossil fuel.”

The ski area is partnering with Wachusett Bio-Mass, a Princeton-based company that accepts the used cooking oil from the ski area and other restaurants and processes it to be ready to use in a standard diesel engine.

Kyle Zelley, president of Wachusett Bio-Mass, said one of the advantages of using biofuel is that the processing of the waste oil allows a diesel engine to use the biofuel without any alterations to the vehicle.

Unprocessed cooking oil can be used in a so-called “grease car,” which requires tanks for both the diesel fuel and the cooking oil.

“You have to start the car up on the diesel, and then switch over to the cooking oil, and then switch back before you shut the car down,” Mr. Zelley said. “I thought it would be easier to convince people to do it, if they didn’t have to do any conversions.”

Converting used cooking oil to biofuel involves changing the fats in the oil and removing the glycerin.

It takes about six hours to complete the process, and then requires about 10 hours to cool. Mr. Zelley said he typically processes up to 120 gallons per day.

“The other benefit is that I pick up the waste oil, so disposal is now free,” Mr. Zelley said.

“And unlike diesel fuel,” he added, “it’s not hazardous if it spills, since it’s a vegetable product.”

 

[djspookman]

That's great!!! ITS ABOUT TIME a ski area does this! Its a long process, but It's worth it and much needed, since its the socially responsible thing to do!

Thanks for posting this news.

dave

 

[sledhaulingmedic]

It's nice that they're taking some steps. The article is a little heavy on maketing spin, however. Without modification, the diesel engines can run on a blend of bio and fossil fuel. The problem is that pure bio is more corrosive, so the fuel lines, fuel pump etc. has to be changed to run on 100% bio. Also, bio clouds at 50F and gels at much higher temps than "Dino" diesel.

That quote about it being safe to spill is also a myth. You don't want any quantity of bio in your drinking water either, although it is much less toxic.

It's a nice small gesture that they're making, don't get me wrong. I think I'd rate is somewhere well below Jimmininiminiminy's wind turbine, but above SR's signs about how their lifts are wind powered. Like the militant ex-smoker that rants and raves when someone lights up within a 5 mile radius, I'm a recovering marketing guy whose theshold for fluff is very low.

 

[JasonE]

“And unlike diesel fuel,” he added, “it’s not hazardous if it spills, since it’s a vegetable product.”

Very not true. I work at a store that uses canola oil in our fryers, and a couple months ago the guy who picks up the waste oil spilled about 50 gallons on the ground. The next morning one of the town police officers notices the spill, calls the fire dept., they come down in full battle gear and block off our entire parking lot, throw down containment sand, etc., call in an environmental cleanup company, etc.

Turns out waste vegetable oil when spilled is just as hazardous as regular oil or fuel. It's flammable, and any significant spark could cause a flash fire. The amount that was spilled in our parking lot, according to the fire captain that handled our spill, would have started a flash fire large enough to have burned our store down if it had been sparked.

Oh... and the guy who picks up our waste oil ended up paying around $15,000 for the clean-up costs for the spill, and he'll be lucky if the DEP doesn't issue fines (since he drove home and used a garden hose to rinse the rest of the spilled oil out of the back of his truck in his driveway).

Jason

 

[WJenness]

It's a nice small gesture that they're making, don't get me wrong. I think I'd rate is somewhere well below Jimmininiminiminy's wind turbine, but abover SR's signs about how their lifts are wind powered. Like the militant ex-smoker that rants and raves when someone lights up within a 5 mile radius, I'm a recovering marketing guy whose theshold for fluff is very low.

It's a good step... and hopefully it will lead to them doing more..

The signs at SR are gone by the way... Boyne was asked about the wind credits in some interview I read and replied that they were going to stop that in order to use the funds to do something that is actually helpful for the environment instead of just their marketing department. I applaud them for that, and am anxious to see what they come up with.

-w

 

[snoseek]

It's nice that they're taking some steps. The article is a little heavy on maketing spin, however. Without modification, the diesel engines can run on a blend of bio and fossil fuel. Th eproblem is that pure bio is more corrosive, so the fuel lines, fuel pump etc. has to be changed to run on 100% bio. Also, bio clouds at 50F and gels at much higher temps than "Dino" diesel.

That quote about it being safe to spill is also a myth. You don't want any quantity of bio in your drinking water eaither, although it is much less toxic.

It's a nice small gesture that they're making, don't get me wrong. I think I'd rate is somewhere well below Jimmininiminiminy's wind turbine, but abover SR's signs about how their lifts are wind powered. Like the militant ex-smoker that rants and raves when someone lights up within a 5 mile radius, I'm a recovering marketing guy whose theshold for fluff is very low.

I agree about it being spin-kind of. A very high percentage of hotels restaurants ect... are recycling used grease these days. It generally means free or very cheap disposal. The only difference is they (wachusette) are using the recycled product themselves. I do applaud them for being resourceful, more places should do this. I suppose this would be a step in the right direction.