Friday, December 7, 2012

CNN honors local students for “heroic” environmental effort

Student program heats local homes

By Will Collette

 

A little over a year ago, I wrote about a group of grade schoolers in Westerly who launched an innovative project they called “TGIF” (Turn Grease Into Fuel). They encouraged local restaurants to save their old oil and fats to be recycled into biofuel by Newport Biodiesel. 


The oil comes back to Westerly for distribution to low-income households by Guardian Fuel and Energy.

 

Student leader Cassandra Lin and her classmates were honored in 2011 by the United Nations Environmental Program for their achievement.

 

The New London Day reports there are 118 local restaurants in the network, plus ten collection sites at town transfer stations, feeding waste in and resulting in 21,000 gallons of biofuel.

 

Last year, state legislation sponsored by Rep. Donna Walsh as well as all of Westerly’s other General Assembly members to encourage growth of the program was passed and signed by Governor Chafee.

 

Ms. Lin told the Sun that she hopes to see the program expand throughout New England.

 

TGIF was featured on CNN's Heroes All-Star Tribute on December 1st as part of their "Young Wonders" segment.