Say it with fueling -- Big Green Bus to pig out on grease from BBQ, burgers in bio-power statement

Dartmouth College students will drive home a message ofsustainability today with the Big Green Bus, a renewable fuel-powered vehicle on display from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the CivicCenter Plaza in Downtown Memphis.

"It's half work, half play," said 20-year-old Ben Gifford, arising senior at Dartmouth. "We're talking to as many people aspossible about consumer decisions, but at the same time it's a 10-week road trip."

The group of 11 plan to to fill 'er up with a little grease fromHuey's and Charles Vergos' Rendezvous while they're in Memphis for apit stop. The bus usually burns either a biodiesel-diesel blend orpure vegetable oil, but in Memphis, they'll have to take what theycan get.

"Pig-shoulder grease is going to keep them putt-putting whilethey're here," said Rendezvous manager Patrick Donahue.

The students pulled in to Agricenter International fromHuntsville, Ala., on Wednesday afternoon. They heard presentationson local ethanol and biofuel efforts and farmers' plans to growalternative crops. County Mayor A C Wharton is meeting with thegroup today to speak on the Sustainable Shelby Initiative.

The fifth year for students from New Hampshire to travel acrossAmerica in a science fair project with wheels, this year's bus pullsout all the stops.

Fifteen students worked for more than a year to trick out their1989 coach bus, complete with living area, kitchen, solar panels,Surround Sound, LCD TVs, sleeping areas and wireless Internet.

They bought the bus for about $20,000 and raised more than$100,000 for restorations. A design wrap featuring sponsors such asWaste Management and Newman's Own give the bus a corporate feel. Acouple of students drive behind the bus in a Volkswagon Jetta "chasecar," which also runs on biodiesel.

"We've run into a few problems," said Gifford, a philosophymajor. "We've had to jump it off with the chase car a few times, andonce we couldn't turn the bus off.

"But no serious breakdowns yet," he added.

They encourage visitors to have a look-see.

"We've talked to so many different people across America," saidbus co-manager Kate Parizeau, 22. "A challenge for us is to make'green' seem more tangible."

Tonight, the bus will take a lap around the C-track at MemphisMotorsports Park, topping off at about 70 mph, and then it'll headto New Orleans on Friday morning.

- Sara Patterson: 529-2594

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Catching the Big Green Bus In Memphis

Here's the itinerary for the Big Green Bus crew today:

10 a.m.: 160 N. Main, Meeting with Shelby County Mayor A CWharton

11 a.m.- 1 p.m.: Civic Center Plaza

1-2 p.m.: Huey's Downtown for lunch

2:15- 4 p.m.: Tour of National Civil Rights Museum, 450 Mulberry

4:15-5 p.m.: Tour of Milagro Biofuels, no longer in business

6-8 p.m.: Charles Vergos' Rendezvous for dinner

On the Web

For more information on this year's tour, visit biggreenbus.org.To read students' blogs, visit changents.com/biggreenbus.

VIDEO at: http://www.commercialappeal.com/videos/detail/big-green-bus/

The Big Green Bus

Fifteen students from Dartmouth College are traveling the countryin a vegetable oil powered bus on a mission for change.

Video Producer: Lacey Winters

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