Banded together for biodiesel

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The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) has assisted various bands who have been rolling-and rocking-on biodiesel over the years. Here are some of the current "bands on the bean:"

Vans Warped Tour-The Vans Warped Tour, www.warpedtour.com, is a traveling rock music festival visiting 50 cities in 60 days, with eight or nine stages, 70 to 80 bands and an extensive village, all operated by 700 crew members and artists. Despite the enormity of energy needs to operate this, the tour is lessening its impact on the environment through the use of biodiesel, and through other measures. At the end of the first month of this summer's tour, direct carbon dioxide was reduced by 134,706 pounds through the use of 41,780 gallons of B2O.

The Black Crowes-The NBB helped the Black Crowes, www.blackcrowes.com, find biodiesel blends on the first leg of its 2006 tour. Bus driver Bob Bottiglieri took an instrumental role in procuring biodiesel for the band's two buses. Guster-The band Guster, www.guster.com, continues to be a tireless advocate for biodiesel. The Wisconsin Clean Cities-Southeast Area recently held an event featuring Guster and the University of Wisconsin's Challenge X competition vehicle. The "Moovada," a Chevy Equinox re-engineered as a hybrid biodiesel-electric prototype, took runner-up honors at the 2006 Challenge X competition. This Milwaukee event, supported in part by the NBB, preceded the Summerfest concert series, where Guster headlined that evening.

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young-The NBB is one sponsor of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young's (CSNY) use of biodiesel on the band's current tour. Look out for a biodiesel booth at concert stops, turning CSNY fans into biodiesel fans. For tour dates, visit www.csny.com.