Oct. 17--THERE ARE GREEN energy ideas that make good sense, and then there are green energy concepts that make you turn green.

Pee and poop are both being used for biofuel. As nasty as that sounds, it makes sense.

Mazda's new CX-7 four-wheel-drive uses a urine-like solution to cut its diesel tailpipe emissions. The compound, called AdBlue, is a mixture of roughly one-third pure urea and two-thirds demineralized water. It's currently available only in Australia. Problem is that AdBlue, which is stored in a 4-gallon tank to supplement diesel fuel, costs about $32 a gallon. That's some pricey pee.

If that solution can be replaced with actual urine, then you've got something. Instead of pulling into a filling station to pump gas, you could use its restroom to fill up a canister, then lift the hood and pour it into the tank. The problem with that is, you'd end up having to pay four bucks to use the restroom.

That, however, could help the state of Virginia, which hasn't been able to afford to keep its rest-stop facilities open during the recession.

Come to think of it, it could also help Starbucks, which has been having a little revenue-flow problem itself lately. The more coffee you drink, the more you save on fuel.

This should come as no surprise, because poop power has been around for a while. A town in Washington state has been using sewage to generate electricity for years. I think, however, that I'd take my chances living next door to a nuclear power plant rather than deal with the aroma that kind of power plant would spew.

But the green movement really crosses the line when it starts burning bunnies for biofuel. According to Scientific American, Stockholm is catching, freezing and shipping rabbits to a heating plant to be used as biofuel. The bunnies are strays that had been purchased at pet shops as babies, then abandoned when they grew to adulthood.

Hmm. I might be able to make a little money on the side as a PR consultant for the biofuel industry. Here's some free advice: Do not burn bunnies, kittens, puppies or baby chicks to generate electricity.

Sweden is taking that trend even further with plans to try out heating a crematorium with human bodies. According to Clean Technica.com, "The plan will eliminate the crematorium's heating bill." Even though Grandma always did keep me warm during the winter, that's more than a little disturbing.

Michael Zitz: 540/846-5163 Email: mikez@freelancestar.com

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