Julia Roberts Promotes Alternative Fuel

Here comes another A-list movie star to save the environment. Julia Roberts has gone from films to Broadway and now she’s taking on the spokeswoman role, as she promotes alternative fuel for Dallas-based Earth Biofuels.

People reports, Roberts brings superstar wattage to the efforts to broaden awareness of biofuels. She joins fellow Oscar winner Morgan Freeman and country-music legend Willie Nelson, who are both on Earth Biofuels' board of directors. As for the reason the actress agreed to take on the role of spokewoman, Julia was quoted to say, ”It's very important that we expand our use of clean energy and make a long-term commitment to it,"adding, ”Biodiesel and ethanol are better for the environment and for the air we breathe."

According to AZ Central, Dallas-based Earth Biofuels announced that Roberts will become a spokeswoman for the company and chair its new advisory board. Julia Roberts is the latest celebrity to get on board Biofuel’s clean train and she joins Willie Nelson and Morgan Freeman. Earth Biofuels produces biodiesel and is the exclusive distributor of Nelson's signature brand of biodiesel. The soy derivative is mostly sold in a blend called B20, which is 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent diesel. Unlike former Vice President, Al Gore the public is more apt to listen to celebrities when it comes to important issues like the environment. Earth Biofuels said it will work with Roberts on a program to encourage the use of biodiesel in more than 500,000 diesel school buses nationwide.

In a report from Earthtimes.org, Julia Roberts stressed the importance of Biodiesel as a start for even cleaner fuels in the future, ”The use of biodiesel is a positive step toward minimizing pollutive emissions and greenhouse gases. By focusing on school buses, we can affect the health and well-being of the people most susceptible to that pollution – our children – today.” The really cool aspect of Biofuels is that it can be made from vegetable oils like, soy and canola or even old restaurant grease. A statement released by the company outlined the benefits of biodiesel, ”Today, B20 is the most common and fastest growing biodiesel blend in the United States. It reduces hydrocarbon emissions by 20 per cent and carbon monoxide and particulate emissions by 12 per cent. Additionally, biodiesel reduces vehicle sulfur emissions on average by 20 per cent, plus biodiesel is nontoxic and biodegradable. Biodiesel is the only alternative fuel certified by the Environmental Protection Agency that fulfills the requirements of Section 211 (B) of the Clean Air Act.”

Julia Roberts, 38, is the second highest paid actress in the world next to Reese Witherspoon. After breaking into the world of Hollywood with Mystic Pizza, she came into stardom with the 1990 romantic comedy Pretty Woman. Since then, Roberts has gone on to prestigious roles, such as Tinkerbell in Hook, and Erin Brockovich in the movie of the same name. Other big-name movies on Roberts' résumé include Notting Hill, My Best Friend's Wedding, Ocean's Eleven and Ocean's Twelve, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind and Mona Lisa Smile. Roberts' voice will appear in the upcoming animated movie, Charlotte's Web.

[Additional Sources: People, AZ Central, Earthtimes.org]