Addicted to Oil? NOLS RVO Bus Runs Independent of Nation’s Energy Woes

LANDER, Wyo.-While the nation’s gas prices continue to rise and the President warns of the nation’s “addiction to oil,” the non-profit National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) has found a better way to get around. The school has a 36-foot bus fueled by French fries and other ingredients traveling the country, providing an active, environmentally conscious way to learn about the outdoors.

The bus runs on recycled vegetable oil (RVO) collected from local restaurants, a cleaner, renewable alternative to petroleum. So far, the bus has traveled more than 40,000 miles on RVO during its 540-day journey crossing the country. This approach has saved 3,000 gallons of petroleum, and eliminated sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions while significantly reducing the release of other particulates. The specially adapted vehicle is also equipped with solar panels that power its audio-visual equipment, lights and computers.

“In just eighteen months we have saved thousands of dollars,” says Bruce Palmer, NOLS director of admission and marketing. “But more important, as a school that teaches environmental ethics, we have practiced what we teach and recycled a waste product, used a renewable resource grown by American farmers, and decreased our emissions. Good for our pocketbook and good for the environment.”

Sponsored by SilkT, the makers of organic soymilk, the bus brings NOLS’ high-quality outdoor education right into communities. Activities include a climbing wall on the side of the bus, fly-fishing clinics and Wilderness Medicine Institute of NOLS (WMI) clinics.

Evenings feature the bus’ solar-powered outdoor theatre showing the NOLS movie “The Expedition,” NOLS alumni expedition slide shows and sneak previews of the NOLS TV series. High-quality outdoor gear is also raffled on college campuses.

White Wave, Inc. (www.SILKisSOY.com), a wholly owned subsidiary of Dean Foods (NYSE: DF), was established in Boulder, Colo. in 1977. In 1996, White Wave introduced Silk, America’s first refrigerated soymilk. Today, Silk is available in 11 flavors and is the No. 1 selling organic consumer packaged goods brand in the nation. White Wave’s product offerings include Silkr Soymilk, SunSoyr Soymilk and the new TofuTownT Tofu TendersT line of ready-to-eat tofu.