URI greening its ocean research fleet

Narragansett, R.I. (WPRI) - The University of Rhode Island is always looking for ways to lessen its environmental impact.

We've learned the school's ocean research vessel is recycling oil from fast food restaurants to fuel its trek around the globe.

The Endeavor recently topped off its fuel tank with sixteen thousand gallons of refined biofuel.

It's the first ship in the U.S. research fleet to use an alternative fuel, a feat URI Associate Dean Dennis Nixon tells us he's proud of.

"It occurred to us that we ought to be running the most environmentally friendly campus and scientific facilities that we possibly could," said Nixon.

The Endeavor runs on a mix of regular diesel and recycled vegetable oil processed and formulated at Newport Biodiesel in Newport.

The switch over is not only environmentally friendly, but its saves the university pennies on the gallon.

That's an added bonus when thousands of gallons of fuel go into a ship that will circumnavigate the globe.

"Anything that we can do to limit our dependence on fossil fuel is a good thing," said Nixon.