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Boy and Biofuel

Paying for college is a growing challenge in this country, where annual tuition can run upwards of $40,000. One Portland boy has come up with an inventive plan to help him save for school, while getting an education in the process.

Forest Endicott, a 12-year-old boy who cares as much about the environment as he does about making his financial goals, has launched a business that imports old diesel SUVs from Australia and converts them into biofuel vehicles for sale in Oregon.

With the help of his father, Forest launched a company called Clean Cruisers and began importing 25-year-old Land Cruisers last year. Once they clear customs and Homeland Security, he and his dad work on converting the old vehicles into cleaner-running trucks that won’t harm the environment. Once converted to biofuel, the used vehicles are offered up for sale.

Whether Forest will make enough money to save for school remains unanswered. But certainly, his creativity and commitment will get him noticed by college admissions officers and help him cross at least one of the hurdles facing him in the years ahead: Getting in to a good school.

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To read more about this and other environmental health issues, go to: www.environmentalhealthnews.org, www.ourstolenfuture.org, or www.healthandenvironment.org