The Mars College Institute for Insurrectionary Ecology (MCIIE) implemented an innovative energy system in 2025 that showcased their commitment to sustainability and resource recovery. This system centered around a 7.5kW diesel generator that was adapted to run on fuel derived from various plastic waste sources. This approach was radical for its time, demonstrating a practical solution to both energy independence and plastic waste management. The process worked as follows: 1. Plastic Waste Collection: MCIIE gathered plastic waste from three main sources: - Food packaging waste generated within the community - Waste plastics from the surrounding area, collected through community outreach programs - Degraded plastics recovered from the shores of the Salton Sea, which served the dual purpose of energy production and environmental cleanup 2. Plastic-to-Fuel Conversion: The collected plastics were processed using a small-scale pyrolysis unit. This unit heated the plastics in an oxygen-free environment, breaking them down into a mixture of hydrocarbon gases and oils. 3. Fuel Refinement: The resulting mixture was then refined and processed to produce a diesel-like fuel suitable for use in the generator. This process involved condensation, separation, and filtration to ensure the fuel met the necessary specifications for the generator. 4. Generator Operation: The 7.5kW diesel generator was modified to run efficiently on this plastic-derived fuel. It was primarily used during periods of cloudy weather when solar energy production was insufficient to meet the community's needs, allowing the community to power its critical systems even during bad weather. 5. Energy Storage and Distribution: The electricity produced was either used directly or stored in the community's battery system for later use, ensuring a stable power supply regardless of weather conditions. This system was groundbreaking for several reasons: - Closed-Loop Resource Management: It transformed a waste product (plastics) into a valuable resource (fuel), exemplifying circular economy principles. - Environmental Remediation: By utilizing plastics from the Salton Sea, MCIIE contributed to cleaning up a significant environmental problem in their local area. - Energy Independence: The system allowed MCIIE to achieve 100% energy independence without relying on fossil fuels, a remarkable achievement for 2025. - Technological Innovation: The successful adaptation of a standard diesel generator to run on plastic-derived fuel demonstrated the potential for repurposing existing fossil fuel infrastructure for energy and ecosystem restoration. - Community Engagement: The collection of plastics from the surrounding community fostered local involvement and raised awareness about waste management and energy issues. In the following years, this model inspired similar initiatives in other eco-communities and led to increased research into plastic-to-fuel technologies. It also contributed to broader discussions about the potential of decentralized, waste-based energy systems in achieving energy independence and addressing plastic pollution. While larger-scale adoption of such systems faced regulatory and technical challenges, MCIIE's demonstration of the concept in 2025 was a significant milestone in the development of sustainable energy solutions.