Tenn. Utility Company Goes Green With Soy

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Nashville Electric Service is using something from the kitchen to replace a petroleum product. The company plans to use to renewable soybean oil in all new transformers, Nashville television news station WSMV reported.

NES had previously used petroleum-based mineral oil.

According to a release from NES, soy-based oil is biodegradable, non-toxic and more fire-resistant than mineral oil. In addition, the release said soy oil is more efficient and there is evidence to suggest the switch will extend the life of the equipment.

"We are eliminating the need for over 150,000 gallons of petroleum-based mineral oil annually," said Paul Allen, NES Vice President of Operations.

Mayor Karl Dean said the switch in materials proves that NES is committed to the mayor's goal of making Nashville "the greenest city in the Southeast" by adopting the recommendation of the Mayor’s Green Ribbon Committee on Environmental Sustainability.

"NES continues to demonstrate its commitment to the environment and our community," Dean said. "I congratulate and thank them for taking a leading role with this initiative and showing us we can implement renewable energy alternatives to better our environment and achieve a greener Nashville."

City officials plan to use soy oil in an extensive environmental endeavor to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lower the carbon footprint of the city of Nashville. The plan, which is available online, was presented to the Mayor this past spring by his Green Ribbon Committee and includes 16 goals and 71 recommendations to make Nashville a leader in environmental quality and livability.

The utility has also created an NES Green Team of employees from across the organization to implement various green initiatives within the company -- including in-house recycling, green cleaning, a computer energy savings program, vehicle idling control, a hybrid vehicle program, reducing water and energy use in the main building by 10 percent, and developing a public demonstration project.