U.S. Military to Use Cooking Oil to Fuel Guantanamo Base

Science & Technology (alternative energy)

Last year, we wrote about how the US Naval Station on Guantanamo completed installation of a pair of wind turbines designed to meet a quarter of the base’s average power needs during the windy months.

Following in these eco-savvy footsteps, the U.S. Navy has bought itself a biodiesel processor to clean used cooking oil from Guantanamo Base and mix it with diesel fuel to produce a biodiesel blend. Currently, the base produces about 1,500 gallons (5,680 litres) of used cooking oil a month in its galleys, restaurants and home kitchens. That oil was being poured directly into a landfill.

Landfill space is tight on the base, which is rented from Cuba and completely cut off from the rest of the island because of chilly relations between the U.S. and Cuban governments.

"Every gallon of cooking oil we put in the tank is another gallon of diesel oil we don't have to buy and ship down," said Navy Cmdr. Jeff Johnston, public works officer for the base. :: Via Planet Ark