Appleton Culver's owner turns old fryer oil into fuel

From an article by Ricardo Arguello in the Appleton Post-Crescent:

CHILTON — The countless customers who flock to Culver's Restaurant on Westhill Boulevard in Appleton probably have no idea that they're helping the environment.

But every ButterBurger combo basket produces just a bit more fuel for owner Joe Nelesen's Ford Excursion and the two tractor mowers that cut 80 percent of the grass at his golf course, Hickory Hills Country Club.

Nelesen has outfitted the three vehicles to run on used vegetable oil, all of it from his Culver's restaurant. The odd energy source has people curious on how exactly it all works.

"A lot of times, people are really surprised," Nelesen, 68, said. "And you know, they're kind of happy to see that it's alternative energy. It's usually after a round of golf that they want to look at the tractor, the filter system."