The glamorous world of cooking oil recycling. "Sorry about the mess," Libby Rodgers says as she hoists herself into her big dark blue Ford pick-up. "I basically work out of my truck." Rodgers nods toward the back seat, which is piled high with paperwork, folders and business equipment, "Back there's my office." The truck rumbles into life as Rodgers turns the key in the ignition and we pull out of the airplane hangar-sized building that houses Rodger's fledgling business - Lookout Mountain Biofuels. Rodgers is on her way to collect waste vegetable oil from local Prineville restaurants that she will refine into biodiesel to run everything from the truck she's driving to area farming equipment.
Rodgers, a Crook County native, began the process of building her own
refinery about one and-a-half years ago. She began refining waste
vegetable oil for her own personal use about three years ago. Rodgers
will soon begin refining the waste oil she collects for commercial sale
to area ranchers and farmers along with a few individuals who will use
it to power their vehicles. Rodgers is young, petite and blonde and
works full-time as an outdoor guide.
She also coaches the local high school's girls' soccer team. During her
lunch hours and before and after work hours, Libby collects barrels of
waste oil which can weigh anywhere from 250 to 500 pounds, and brings
them back to her facility to later begin the refining process.
"I really have always had an interest in renewable energy, fuel
sustainability and being subsistent," says Rodgers. "I also want to
give back to my community because it's the community I grew up in and
they gave a lot to me," she adds later.
