Green Oil and Light (GOAL) Campus
Since 2001, The Forest Foundation has been developing innovative projects in conservation and sustainable development around the world and around the block. The GOAL Campus is another project that represents well its work in promoting green business, economic self-sufficiency, and entrepreneurial development that enhances our relationships with the natural world.
The Campus Site
The site is an old oil and gas terminal located in an industrial area along a HOPE VI redevelopment zone, and is in the process of being converted into an incubator for green businesses that demonstrate sustainable technologies.
The campus itself boasts a completely refurbished office/warehouse complex, heated and cooled construction space, five offices with furniture (three of which are available for rent: 1,000 square feet of warehouse and 800 square feet with five offices), nearly two acres of parking, storage shed and several concrete slabs for manufacturing, rail spur, and mechanics shop.
Projects and Organizations
The GOAL Campus will be a model for state-of-the-art, closed-loop, cradle-to-cradle, community-based waste recycling and alternative energy production and distribution. In addition, we are helping train the next generation in sustainable livelihoods.
One major project is the collection of waste vegetable oil (WVO) from local restaurants for conversion to biodiesel, a cleaner-burning locally-produced fuel. All biodiesel byproducts are being recycled locally.
Several green organizations occupy the site, including: Carolina Biodiesel (a biofuel distribution company), Greenway Transit (a green transportation business), Purestream Solutions (a restaurant waste upcycling company); 
Recyclique/YIKES (non-profit community gardening and upcycling) and The Forest Foundation.
To increase diversity, additional businesses are being recruited in “Green Building, Energy Efficiency, Weatherization and Green Landscaping,” and will be provided with shared office space, overhead and assistance in networking and training. All these organizations benefit synergistically from reduced costs, shared experience, and trade in products and services.
This self-sufficient site is also funded by loans, donations, grants, investors, and revenue from these green businesses, which is also reinvested into the community.
Outreach
Plans exist for site redevelopment and simultaneous training on: biofuel production; solar hot water; solar photovoltaics (PV); porch and awnings systems; crawl space sealing and insulation; urban gardening and composting; and water recycling.
A weekly seminar series continues the work of the Ecolounge. The seminar series is expanding to offer courses in green business development. The site is being used to assist Durham Tech with its Brownfields Training Program, funded by the Office of Economic and Workforce Development.
Currently, dozens of at-risk youth from the neighborhood have been employed and introduced to a range of skills useful to green businesses, working with several local NGOs like SEEDS, Good Work and the Black, Brown Green Alliance.
Events and Contact
A schedule of events is listed on the Greenway Transit events calendar.
We also have a Facebook page: Green Oil and Light.
Request a full list and application through e-mail at info@theforesfoundation.org.