WINDSOR – Something huge might be on Bertie County’s horizon.

That may come in the form of a new bio-diesel conversion facility, according to Bertie County Schools (BCS) Superintendent Dr. Chip Zullinger.

Shaw University, who is working on a partnership with BCS, announced at a recent community meeting that they had received a multimillion-dollar grant to construct such a facility.

According to Zullinger, Shaw wishes to build that facility in Bertie County, housed at Southwestern Middle School.

&uot;I don’t know that there is one of those in North Carolina yet so this could be a huge economic boost,&uot; Zullinger told the Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald in a telephone interview.

Bio-diesel conversion works by taking used vegetable oil from fried foods and converting it into fuel that can be used to power diesel motors, which saves a great deal of money and is better on the environment.

&uot;We could literally run our school busses on Burger King’s french fry oil,&uot; Zullinger noted.

Shaw University is clear on its stance on promoting alternative fuel productions, a policy which will be made better known if they locate a

bio-diesel conversion facility here.

&uot;Bertie County might be almost ground zero for the possibilities of alternative fuel production,&uot; Zullinger stated.

The Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald will have more on this new possible facility as information is made available.