Pacific Views

Willie Diesel

Last night NOW had a very interesting program about Willie Nelson and his backing for the biodiesel fuel called Willie Diesel. I've not learned too much about biodiesel and have always associated it with Archer-Daniels Midland and their attempt to harvest Washington dollars to build a monopoly. This program has shown me how uninformed I've been on this front. Because if Willie Diesel takes off, it can have a huge benefit for our country because it has the benefit of rescuing our rural communities from the corporatization of agriculture while providing a viable alternative to petroleum.

One problem we have with our current energy system as has been pointed out by RMI's Amory Lovins more than once is we are too dependent on large highly interdependent pipelines and electrical power lines. That is one of the reasons he strongly supports wind and solar energy because these types of energy sources are highly decentralized and more reliable because of that. Biodiesel created in local communities has exactly that same result. So not only is biodiesel better for the environment, better for the communities, better at keeping small farmers in business, it is also much better for creating an energy system that is more resilient and less of a target for terrorist disruption.

And best of all is the effect it has on our need to control the Middle East. Willie Nelson has put a sticker on his Mercedes that gives one of the best reasons for supporting this type of fuel: "Fueled by Willie Diesel, no Wars Needed." Well, I'm sold. If I still had that little old Rabbit Diesel, I'd be buying Willie Diesel.