Renewable Fuels Canadian Journal

Renewable Fuels Canadian Journal November, 1999

President's Report

by Jim Johnson
September 13 and 14, 1999, I attended the Canadian Energy and Mines Minister's Conference in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. This was a gathering of the Federal Minister and Provincial Energy and Environment Ministers.
The first day of the conference, I took the opportunity to tour the wind energy facility on PEI. There appears to be a lot of good work being done here to improve the efficiency of wind-powered electrical generation. Unfortunately, the total Canadian budget for this type of work is very low and is restricting the amount of work that can be accomplished.
The second day of the event focused on energy and the environment, and was an opportunity for industry representatives to make presentations to the ministers. Most of the presenters emphasized the strides their respective industries have made in terms of environmental and efficiency improvements. Most acknowledged the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions - with the possible exception of the coal industry. Both the Wind Energy Association and the Canadian Gas Association recommended using bio-fuels to help reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. Although I did not have the opportunity to make a formal presentation on behalf of the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association, I did alert the group to the upcoming Ethanol Vehicle Challenge that will take place in Canada next year. It will provide additional evidence and an opportunity to witness first-hand that the use of high levels of ethanol is a means of reducing the environmental impact of large personal transportation vehicles.
The afternoon sessions were closed for the ministers and their staff. Alain Lefebvre, Director of the Gas and Oil Branch of Natural Resources Québec, made a presentation on ethanol that was very well received. Ken Knox, Ontario Deputy Minister of Energy, Science and Technology, led a discussion on the Governor's Ethanol Coalition. There was a lot of interest from the province in joining this organization.
Although the conference was short on specific initiatives, it was a good opportunity to meet with government and industry representatives to exchange views and information.

Report on Michigan Ethanol Workshop Renewable Fuels
at Royal Agricultural Winter Fair

by Doug Eadie, Ontario Corn Producers' Association
The Michigan Ethanol Workshop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Fuels Development?s Great Lakes Regional Biomass Energy Program, and organized by Bryan & Bryan Inc., was held on September 27th, 1999, in Lansing, Michigan. The workshop offered a good discussion of ethanol issues in the state.
Currently, there is no ethanol plant in operation in Michigan. Keith Muxlow, Executive Director of the Corn Marketing Program (CMP) of Michigan, has headed up a feasibility study for an ethanol plant to be built in the state. The study recommends waiting until the California situation has cleared up and for the results of Phase II of the Clean Air Act before building a plant. The recommendation is to construct an average size, farmer-based, co-operative ethanol production facility. CMP is currently providing financial assistance for the placement of E85 refuelling stations in Michigan State.
Ford and General Motors are continuing to support ethanol. Ford is working on a marketing plan to promote the use of E85 by supplying fuel vouchers and maps of E85 retail locations with the purchase of new flex-fuelled Ranger pick-up trucks. Crystal Flash, a Michigan fuel marketer, is selling E85 at the same price as mid-grade gasoline in Battle Creek, Michigan.
Eric Vaughn, President of the U.S. Renewable Fuels Association, addressed the workshop by conference call. He said that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency should soon be announcing that oxygenated fuels will be given credit for carbon monoxide reductions and indicated that the blends would then be sold in large quantities, year-round, in the Northeastern United States.
The workshop was very informative and positive. The general feeling was that more should be spent on promoting the use of ethanol.

Soybeans are the feature crop for the 1999 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, when "Country Comes to the City" in Toronto, November 4-13.
Biodiesel is an up and coming renewable fuel which has the potential to be applied in a variety of applications from a lubricity additive to diesel fuel, reducing emissions, to being used in closed environments, such as mining operations.

Thank you to the Ontario Soybean Growers' Marketing Board, who are providing display space for the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association, next to their soydiesel-run tractor. This will be an excellent forum to reach the Toronto public and raise awareness of renewable fuels.

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Renewable Fuels Canadian Journal			November, 1999
President's Report
by Jim Johnson September 13 and 14, 1999, I attended the Canadian Energy and Mines Minister's Conference in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. This was a gathering of the Federal Minister and Provincial Energy and Environment Ministers. The first day of the conference, I took the opportunity to tour the wind energy facility on PEI. There appears to be a lot of good work being done here to improve the efficiency of wind-powered electrical generation. Unfortunately, the total Canadian budget for this type of work is very low and is restricting the amount of work that can be accomplished. The second day of the event focused on energy and the environment, and was an opportunity for industry representatives to make presentations to the ministers. Most of the presenters emphasized the strides their respective industries have made in terms of environmental and efficiency improvements. Most acknowledged the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions - with the possible exception of the coal industry. Both the Wind Energy Association and the Canadian Gas Association recommended using bio-fuels to help reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. Although I did not have the opportunity to make a formal presentation on behalf of the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association, I did alert the group to the upcoming Ethanol Vehicle Challenge that will take place in Canada next year. It will provide additional evidence and an opportunity to witness first-hand that the use of high levels of ethanol is a means of reducing the environmental impact of large personal transportation vehicles. The afternoon sessions were closed for the ministers and their staff. Alain Lefebvre, Director of the Gas and Oil Branch of Natural Resources Québec, made a presentation on ethanol that was very well received. Ken Knox, Ontario Deputy Minister of Energy, Science and Technology, led a discussion on the Governor's Ethanol Coalition. There was a lot of interest from the province in joining this organization. Although the conference was short on specific initiatives, it was a good opportunity to meet with government and industry representatives to exchange views and information.

Report on Michigan Ethanol Workshop	Renewable Fuels at Royal Agricultural Winter Fair
by Doug Eadie, Ontario Corn Producers' Association The Michigan Ethanol Workshop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Fuels Development?s Great Lakes Regional Biomass Energy Program, and organized by Bryan & Bryan Inc., was held on September 27th, 1999, in Lansing, Michigan. The workshop offered a good discussion of ethanol issues in the state. Currently, there is no ethanol plant in operation in Michigan. Keith Muxlow, Executive Director of the Corn Marketing Program (CMP) of Michigan, has headed up a feasibility study for an ethanol plant to be built in the state. The study recommends waiting until the California situation has cleared up and for the results of Phase II of the Clean Air Act before building a plant. The recommendation is to construct an average size, farmer-based, co-operative ethanol production facility. CMP is currently providing financial assistance for the placement of E85 refuelling stations in Michigan State. Ford and General Motors are continuing to support ethanol. Ford is working on a marketing plan to promote the use of E85 by supplying fuel vouchers and maps of E85 retail locations with the purchase of new flex-fuelled Ranger pick-up trucks. Crystal Flash, a Michigan fuel marketer, is selling E85 at the same price as mid-grade gasoline in Battle Creek, Michigan. Eric Vaughn, President of the U.S. Renewable Fuels Association, addressed the workshop by conference call. He said that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency should soon be announcing that oxygenated fuels will be given credit for carbon monoxide reductions and indicated that the blends would then be sold in large quantities, year-round, in the Northeastern United States. The workshop was very informative and positive. The general feeling was that more should be spent on promoting the use of ethanol.	Renewable Fuels at Royal Agricultural Winter Fair
	Soybeans are the feature crop for the 1999 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, when "Country Comes to the City" in Toronto, November 4-13. Biodiesel is an up and coming renewable fuel which has the potential to be applied in a variety of applications from a lubricity additive to diesel fuel, reducing emissions, to being used in closed environments, such as mining operations. Thank you to the Ontario Soybean Growers' Marketing Board, who are providing display space for the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association, next to their soydiesel-run tractor. This will be an excellent forum to reach the Toronto public and raise awareness of renewable fuels.

Canadian Journal Page 1		Canadian Journal Page 3