The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community is turning waste into energy, as the SMSC is in the process of turning waste oil into bio-diesel for use in SMSC vehicles.

The SMSC’s nine restaurants and the tribal government generate 28,000 gallons of waste vegetable oil each year.

What was once considered waste is now an energy resource.

The SMSC is currently in the process of obtaining infrastructure to recycle waste oil on site and turn it into bio-diesel. This process is expected to go online during the summer of 2008.Waste vegetable oil typically used in deep-fat frying will be used to produce bio-diesel for use in SMSC vehicles, including a fleet of shuttle buses that run between Mystic Lake Casino Hotel, Little Six Casino and the Dakota Development Complex.

Several departments, such as Land and Natural Resources and Public Works, rely on a fleet of trucks and miscellaneous diesel powered equipment to handle day-to-day operations. 

All vehicles and equipment will soon be powered by bio-diesel fuel.

During the summer months, bio-diesel can supply 100 percent of the required fuel; but during the winter months, bio-diesel will be blended with petroleum diesel fuel due to colder temperatures common in Minnesota.

Bio-diesel produces cleaner emissions than petroleum-based diesel fuel.

The SMSC will also be using waste motor oil and vegetable oil to heat buildings.

Currently, waste oil is hauled away. But by fall 2008, some SMSC spaces will be partially heated by waste oil. Using waste oil for heat reduces the use of natural gas.The nine restaurants owned by the SMSC that will supply waste vegetable oil are: The Buffet, Meadows Grille, Minnehaha Café, Ribbons Steakhouse, Little Six Restaurant, Tipi Restaurant, Gambler's Grille, All Star Café (open to Gaming Enterprise employees only) and the Playworks LINK Event Center.

The SMSC Land Department and Natural Resources Department has re-established native prairies and wetlands on more than 500 acres of former farmland.

Prescribed burns are used to maintain and improve native prairie conditions on the reservation.

Wild rice is sowed in Community wetlands.

Maple sap is collected from Community trees, and maple syrup is made.

Trees and other native flora are planted. Environmental specialists are also active in restoring and managing wetlands, surveying wildlife and taking an inventory of existing natural communities.

Hydrologists assess water quality, coordinate the Community's Wellhead Protection Program, plan projects to improve water quality, and implement erosion control.  

-- Shawn Hogendorf