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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1981-06-03, Page 18Pogo 6A Times -Advocate, Jun. 3, 1981 Goes into ethanol production Phil Durand. RR 2. Zurich, may be the first official recipient of a provincial grant to produce ethanol fuel -alcohol Plans call for an August start-up of cookers and fermenters at Durand's farm. Over 240 gallons of ethanol will be produced per day using raw materials ranging from grain to sugar beets. Though he believes the grant is coming. the province may contribute about $15,000 as part of a program initiated last year to encourage construction of farm stills. Durand is not sure what he will be getting. Durand is pleased to hear he may be getting a grant, but his plans are not, con- ditional to receiving grant money. He said he was en- couraged by the discussions of both the federal and provincial governments and the easing of licencing re- quirements for ethanol fuel production. The project is a $60.000 in- vestment and joint effort in what Durand calls a "community -family pro- ject". Partners in the pro- ject are Durand. his sons Steve, Dave. Ken. Dan and Joe. and his nephew Andy. The men are hoping to run over 20 pieces of farm machinery once their equip- ment has been coverted to run on straight ethanol fuel. A solar heated shed was recently constructed by the family partners to house the farm distillery. What is now becoming visible, however, is merely the tip of the iceberg for senior partner Phil Durand who has spent several years investigating the feasability of producing farm alcohol. Travels throughout the U.S. to see large and small scale distilleries in operation opened Durand's eyes to the tremendous possibilities for reducing North America's dependency on oil. Already in some parts of the U.S. alcohol production has advanced to large scale proportions with operations churning out 500 gallons per minute `,n some instances, says Durand. Costs on such a level have been cut to as low as five cents per gallon, making fuel alcohol a profit- ble venture for the investor. In Durand's somewhat smaller operation however, propane needed to heat the primary cookers is expected to cost about 12 cents per gallon of ethanol produced. As well as heating the building with solar energy, Durand plans to pre -heat water used in the cooking process. The major cost of the operation is the initial cook- ing of the ground vegetable mash. If the water can be pre -heated 70 to 80 degrees, by solar heat, this could be quite a saving in other fuel costs Durand notes. For each 2,000 gallon fermenting tank, 120 gallons of fuel is expected to be turn- ed out on a three-day cycle basis. "We're going to try to distill a couple of tanks per day," explained Phil, "but we can slow down, speed up, or even shut down the whole process if necessary." The small-scale plant will also involve at least one full time partner for 10 to 12 hours each day to monitor vaious stages of production from start to finish. With grain storage facilities also on the premises. Durand ex- pects a good deal of his raw material will come from corn that can later be fed to his cattle and hogs in the form of mash. "It makes for excellent livestock feed," said Phil. "I know of one or two large cattlemen alread using the mash from distillation plants for their animals." Even after cooking, fermenting, and spinning residue free of much of its moisture, explained Durand, corn still retains much of its protein which cannot be broken down by enzymes. SOLAR HEAT — Phil Durand of RR 2, Zurich, stands in front of a building he plans to use for ethanol fuel -alcohol produc- tion. The building features solar panels which will be used to heat the building and heat water to be used in the cooking process to make the fuel. Experiments in using the corn for cereal and other products are also being con- ducted by some companies interested in the mash for human consumption, he said. It's not just corn, however, that will see its share of testing in the Durand distillery come this fall. Bruised apples, cull potatoes, sugar beets and jerusalem artichokes are but a few of the experimen- tal materials Phil is planning to test once in operation. Windfalls, such as last year's disastrous "sprouted" wheat crop will also be taken advantage of for their alcohol content, he explain- ed, rather than go to waste as before. The prospect of creating a clean energy fuel is largely in keeping with Durand's past concern about main- taining a healthy environ- ment. In the early 70's, Phil's involvement with the Huron County Power Plant Committee helped dis- courage hydro's plans for constructing a coal-fired generating plant in the vicinity which farmers feared would pollute much valuable cropland. As chairman of the White Bean Growers at that time, Phil argued against the proposed facility, showing officials what negative effect elevated levels of pollution could have on area crops. The result was a report which eventually dis- uaded planners from going ahead with the project. Such interest in local liv- ing conditions has also carried over into more re- cent speeches delivered by Phil to area service clubs where he urged neighbours to plan for tomorrow's needs. The talks have helped generate interest in possibly starting a co-operative ven- ture with area farmers, says Phil, where raw materials and fuel could be gathered and distributed on a wider scale. "Right now, though, it's a family affair," says Phil. "I could have put the whole thing up and done it by myself, but I wanted something that would create some interest with my sons." The project has also helped support a nearby manufacturer which was hired to fabricate much of the steel tanks and pipes needed for the operation. The decision to buy Cana- dian, says Phil, rose largely out of economics when con- sidering the current rate of exchange on the dollar. "I've also found that hav- ing equipment made in Canada means I can double my capacity for about half the cost," he commented. The advantage of buying homegrown technology, however, may even out con- siderably when one con- siders the vast difference in regulations and permits re- quired between Canada and the U.S. While American farmers have been able to produce alcohol fuel with relatively little fuss from government officials, their Canadian counterparts must currently acquire a yearly $250 permit, plus a bond for $200,000 from the federal government. "It's costing us hundreds of thousands of dollars each day to import foreign oil," said Phil, "and you'd think the government would want to create incentives by relaxing the restrictions." In the meantime, however, he's willing to work with the system and bide his time until a long overdue amendment is passed relaxing such regulations for farmers ex- perimenting in fuel produc- tion. The amendment was supposed to be passed before Christmas, but with con- stitutional matters taking priority it was shoved by the wayside. And for those farmers looking to drop in this suminer for a bit of Durand's home recipe —you'd better not get any hopes up for fuel- ing anything else but your tractor. The moonshine might be fine for combustion engines ,but Phil's not recommending it be tipped back to wet the whistle. "With the kind of steel tanks and pipes we're using instead of copper, they've warned me that it's poisonous to drink," he lamented. RAFFLE KINSMEN QUILT — Exeter Kinsmen are currently selling draw tickets on a quilt. Shown with the prize are Tom Humphries and president-elect Ken Klages. T -A photo Six teams cut at SHDHS By SUSAN McCLURE At a South Huron District High School coaches' meeting Wednesday, the dropping of at least six school teams was part of the agenda. Because of lack of par- ticipation, lack of funds and a lack of coaches, these are the teams that will be discontinued next year: tennis, golf, curling, cross country skiing, wrestling, boy's volleyball (which wasn't formed this year) and possibly junior girls volleyball if a coach can't be found. Ron Bogart, head of the phys ed department, cited cuts in physical education and athletic budgets as the main reason for team cut- backs. The board expects schools to run their physical education program and their school teams on a greatly reduced budget. South Huron's total phys ed budget was cut almost in half. Travel allowance for all school teams is now only $2000. The school gets their money in January. Already most of the money has been spent that was supposed to last until next January. Mr. Bogart ex- plained that the big cost teams "like girls basketball, football and cross country" by the fall likely won't have enough money to meet travel and equipment costs. At the coaches meeting there were several options propcsed. It was suggested that they go on spending as usual and hope the Board of Education would help them when the money ran out. A rather bold plan to completely drop school teams altogether was also proposed. This would be a strike -form of protest against the board. They hoped parents would put pressure on the board. However, as Mr. Bogart pointed out, "does the board really care?" and would the parents be outgoing enough to pressure the board. They also thought only one school wouldn't move the board. It was decided that this method would only hurt the athletes and was hardly fair to the students. The adopted policy is an extension of the new form adopted this year of charging a participation fee. This year it was $10 for the year. Next year, athletes will have to pay $10 for each sport that they participate in. The collected money will go into one "big pot" and needed money for any sport will be taken from there. Each sport won't have their own collected fees to spend The coaches hope this fee won't turn students away from sports. As Mr. Bogart pointed out, "kids are willing to pay a lot more to play minor hockey or some other non -school sport. When it comes to school sports athletes seem to expect everything to be paid for." Mr. Bogart also suggested fund raising as a means of continuing school teams. However, there is the problem that the board doesn't allow schools to sell tickets on draws. They are confined to minor fund- raisers that create a lot of work instead of perhaps one major selling with less work but more returns. Bogart described the system as "a vicious circle." The board won't give them money but yet won't permit them to raise it for them- selves. June 11 there is a meeting for all Huron -Perth coaches to discuss these matters. South Huron isn't the only school being pinched as other schools have dropped teams. Bogart pointed out that "South Huron does a lot more than other schools." He will be sorry to see the teams go but feels it is a rather hopeless situation. Increase .. minimum • wage A two-stage increase in the minimum wage for On- tario's agricultural workers has been announced by Labour Minister Robert G. Elgie. For persons employed in the harvesting of fruit, vegetables, or tobacco, new minimum wage rates will go into effect June 1, 1981 and April 1, 1982. The adult hourly rate currently $2.85 will rise to $3.30 on June 1 and to $3.50 on April 1, 1982. This rate was last revied in March of 1979. The student rate will rise to $2.45 on June 1 and to $2.65 on April 1, 1982 from the current $2.15 per hour. This applies to people under 18, working 28 hours per week or less during the school term or full time during school holidays. Weekly allowances for lodging and meals which employers may deduct against the minimum wage have also been revised. Rooms rise to $15.00 on June 1, 1981 and $17.00 effective April 1, 1982; meals to $1.30 each on June 1, 1981 and $1.40 on April 1, 1982; cost of room and meals will be $42.00 weekly effective June 1, 1981 and $46.00 on April 1, 1982; housing is priced at $36.00 effective June 1, 1981 and $39.00 on April 1, 1982. Cost of serviced housing will be $48.00 weekly as of June 1, 1981 and rise to $52.00 effective April 1. 1982. Summery of minimum wage revsions for agricultural workers. Minimum Wage, Current, June 1, 1981. April 1. 1982; Adult $2.85, $3.30. $3.50.,Stu- dent 2.15, 2.45, 2.65. Allowances Current, June 1. 1981. April 1, 1982; Room $11.00, $15.00, $17.00; Meals leach) 1.15, 1.30, 1.40; (weekly) 24.00, 27.00, 29.00; Room and meals, 35.00, 42.00. 46.00; Housing 30.00. 36.00. 39.00; Housing (serviced) 40.00, 48.00, 52.00. The new rates have been set after consultation with the Agricultural Advisory Committee. The minimum wage for the harv'sting sector of the agricultural industry is es- tablished by the Minister of Labour under Regulation 320/75 of the Employment standards act. zehrs fine markets... of fine foods extraspec'u. s PRICES IN EFFECT WED. JUNE 3 — TUES. J E HWYS 4 & 83 EXETER ZEHRS FRSH $977 1 Ib. E E BUTT R CONCENTRATED PINK OR REGULAR NIAGARA 29 FROZEN LEMONADE ,,,.,,� UNE 9 We Reserve The Right To Limit Purchases To Reasonable Weekly Family Requirements 3 QT. BAG OR JUG 2% PARTLY SKIMMED FRES MILK H 9 plus jug deposit GREEN GIANT FANCY CORN Z'di( NIBLETSZ.S79