Something smells like cafeteria food in San Diego High School’s auto shop class. Surprisingly, it’s not leftover lunch. It is the used cooking oil that students are learning to convert into biofuel.

This new chemistry-infused automotive science lesson is the result of a partnership with New Leaf Biofuel, a biodiesel company co-founded by CEO Nicole Kennard, Muir ’00, and Dave Richards. The two-year-old company aims to transform local recycled materials into clean, renewable energy to power the San Diego community.

New Leaf Biofuel was inspired by Kennard and Richards’ involvement in a U.S. Department of Energy-funded program at San Diego State University, in which they helped manufacturing companies cut energy costs. While taking a hard look at diesel generators and energy consumption, they came across biodiesel.

The company is working to open a large-scale production facility this summer to manufacture commercial biodiesel, using cooking oil collected from the area’s restaurants. About 500 restaurants have already signed up and Kennard hopes to get the city to provide incentives for biodiesel use, as well as other green strategies.

Written by Neda Oreizy, ’08 and Serena Renner, ’08

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