Dinner at the Red Blazer with Franklin Mayors!

We had dinner last night at the Red Blazer in Concord with Ken Merrifield (current Franklin mayor) and Tony Giunta (former Franklin mayor). Great company and an excellent meal!

The best part, however, was our tour of the new boiler system at the Red Blazer. Tony is the CEO of AMENICO (American Energy Independence Company) - his company oversaw the installation and implementation of the new system, which has led the Red Blazer to an 80 percent energy independence! 

They are burning recycled vegetable oil(a waste product from their own kitchen)in a specially fitted boiler. The system takes the used oil directly from their fryolaters to a holding tank. Here it waits to be fired up in a Buderus boiler. The system is efficient and produces no waste products. The restaurant now is able to heat all the hot water needed to run their operation and heat the building.

Soon, once they add the generator to the system, they will be 100 percent off the grid!

This is exciting for so many reasons - energy independence is about so much more than just not burning fuel. Sustainable energy independence is a security, economic and environmental issue and it is long past time that we get serious about achieving this important goal.

I think the system at the Red Blazer is exciting because it is so accessible - it is affordable, will pay for itself in less than 18 months and is easily applicable in many other circumstances. According Tony, we are not far away from being able to implement similar systems in our homes and offices. All of this progress has been achieved through the open market of ideas and business, without government subsidy or mandate.

Watching how excited Tony and the folks at the Red Blazer were about their energy independence made me realize that most people would be willing to convert to alternative fuel systems once they are affordable and easily implementable. That's why developing them through the free market is so important.

Mayor Giunta shows me the state-of-the-art boiler system at the Red Blazer

Discussing energy independence with Mayor Merrifield and Mayor Giunta

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