Today we visited a couple of private sector companies that have established new businesses in El Paso in the last four years. Global Altenative Fuels is a biodiesel operation and ecoworx is a lighting company. Both of these show how companies related to sustainability can create new jobs.

Global Alternative Fuels produces about 15 million gallons of high quality biodiesel from waste vegetable oil that they supply exclusively to a local refinery. They currently employ 42 people. The market for their product was created by the government requirement for biodiesel.

Their approach to biodiesel production is interesting as they add bits and pieces to their processes as they find ways to improve the product, process lower quality (cheaper) feedstock and ways to reuse the by products such as water a glycerin. They treat all their wastewater on site and reuse it and now do not import any more water from the city for production. A real inspiration.

Ecoworx focusses on replacing lighting and largely works by enabling businesses to take advantage of a rebate by the El Paso Electric company. They have mostly retrofitted churches, warehouses, and show rooms. The company employs about 12 people, most of which are electricians.

Both these are tangible examples of entrepreneurs taking advantage of policy decisions to create new niches and new jobs.