Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2006-06-28, Page 22 Exeter Times -Advocate Wednesday, June 28, 2006 Details being worked out for $150 million Hensall ethanol plant By Pat Bolen TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF EXETER — Commercial Alcohols Inc. is looking to start construction of a 150 million ethanol plant in Hensall as soon as possible, but many of the details remain to be worked out, according to those involved in the planning. The main reason for locating the plant in Hensall is the amount of corn production in the area, said Commercial Alcohols Inc. vice-pres- ident Bliss Baker, who added there is a lot of demand for ethanol and the company wants to move as quickly as possible. Baker said a public meeting will be held to get feedback but a date has yet to be determined. One of the principal concerns, according to Baker was the possi- bility of odours from the plant. Baker said there would be none with the Hensall plant using newer techology than the Chatham plant. As well as over 50 people working at the plant when it is completed, Baker said there will be lots of spin- off work. While the company has a rough idea of the dimensions of the plant, they are still doing engineering, Baker said. Huron County Warden and South Huron Mayor Rob Morley said he was involved hi the last months of the negotiations as both warden and mayor. "I had to wear a lot of hats at the meetings," he said. Morley said no tax breaks have been given to Commerical Alcohols at this point. "They were looking for nothing from the county...That's one thing they made clear from day one, that they are willing to pay their fair share." After a proposal for an ethanol plant with five possible locations in Huron County was submitted last year, Morley said it was generally agreed Hensall was the best site. "It had the railroad, the infra- structure in place and the storage for the corn. "Commercial Alcohols wasn't the first company to come and look at Hensall. They were the ones who put the flag down and say `we're going to stay here."' Although Morley said the compa- ny would like to have cement going into the ground this fall, he added both South Huron and Bluewater have to commit to having enough water for the operation. "The only way that can happen is they need to commit to the pipeline." Morley said other issues with the plant include effluent that will be created that the Ministry of the Enviroment is looking at. "We've met with Steve Burns from B.M. Ross. He's four bids out of five that the MOE will go along with this, but there is still that one chance that they won't. That's the two issues that have to be looked at, water and waste." The amount of potable water needed by the plant will be between a peak of 30 gallons per minute down to 23 gallons per minute with a sanitary waste discharge of around 100,000 gallons per day. The amount of corn consumed will be 50,400 bushels of corn per day and an annual ethanol produc- tion of almost 48 million US gallons. Daily ethanol production will be 134,560 US gallons. Along with the Hensall plant, Morley said there are ethanol plants being built in Michigan that will consume corn coming into Ontario. "We just plain don't grow enough corn in Ontario to feed this thing...so now we have to probably bring corn in from Toledo or Chicago or farther south. "This is what we've been looking for," said Morley. "I just hope we can pull it off. The work has got to be done." Bluewater Mayor Bill Dowson credited Huron -Bruce MPP Carol Mitchell for doing much of the work to bring the plant to Hensall. "It was a combina- tion of the co-op, Bliss Baker and Carol. They really pushed it through." Dowson agreed with Morley that sewers and water are essential to the project. "We're obligated to get water or the project will fail," said Dowson, adding that a decision will have to come shortly. A grant from the Canada -Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund will be needed for the waste- water part of the project, according to Dowson who said if the province is serious about ethanol production it will make the funding available. "We're obligated to get water or the project will fail" — BILL DOWSON BLUEWATER MAYOR Marriage licenses increase Continued from front page sented a report on marriage licens- es to council, recommending the increase. Surveying other munici- palities in Huron County, South Huron was already the most expen- sive at $85 per license. North Huron charges $80, while Bluewater, Goderich, Howick and Huron East charge $75. Ashfield Colborne Wawanosh, Central Huron and Morris-Turnberry don't issue marriage licenses. Outside the county, Lambton Shores and Middlesex Centre also don't issue licenses. Things are more expensive in Perth County, where Stratford charges $120, and Perth South, St. Marys and West Perth charge $100. London charges $125, while Lucan Biddulph, Caradoc-Strathroy and North Middlesex charge $100. South Huron has issued 24 mar- riage licenses in 2006 so far, with 63 per cent of the applicants com- ing from South Huron. Dykstra said of the $85 that was charged by the municipality, $48 goes to the Division Registrar. She said a cost analysis shows it costs "about" $100 for the munici- pality to issue a marriage license. Coun. Pete Armstrong questioned the increase, adding he was happy with $85. Council eventually approved the increase. Many benefits to come from ethanol plant By Nina Van Lieshout TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF HENSALL — "This will have a significant boost to local corn producers," says Huron County Corn Producers' Association pres- ident and corn, wheat and soybean farmer Bob Hallam of the Auburn area, speak- ing of the $150 million ethanol plant. The plant is "planned to be on the west side of the Goderich/Exeter Railroad on about 38 acres of land" in Hensall being built by Commercial Alcohols Inc., according to Hensall District Co-op CEO Earl Wagner. Highway 4 and the road- way leading to the ethanol plant could also be widened. "I know it will help the local economy," says Hallam who believes the plant which does not have a set date for construction yet, will be beneficial to not just the farmers but others as well, including the Hensall District Co-op, the people of Hensall and job opportuni- ties this project will create like con- struction jobs Hallam estimates could be around "300 to 400 jobs." But Hallam says it will take time, especially for the farmers to see some bene- fits. "We haven't gotten the shovel into the ground yet but the process of getting the shovel into the ground is there," says Hallam. "It's a start," he adds. In the meantime Hallam wonders what farmers are supposed to do. He propos- es the plant will not actually help out farmers for about two years. "We need light soon on corn pro- duction," says Hallam "or it won't be around," he adds. Although some relief will come for the farmers when this plant is running, Hallam says some- thing has to be done right away. "We're running on equity now," Hallam says, adding some farmers have been for years. Hallam is pleased with the announcement of the ethanol plant but will be more pleased when it's fm- ished. "Get it up and running as fast as possible," says Hallam. Which, if it's up t o Wagner will hap- pen as soon as possible. "If things go on schedule, we're hoping to be opera- tional for the 2007 corn crop. Wagner would like to see the construction of the plant begin "this fall or next spring." There are "some hurdles" to overcome though, "three main ones," according to Wagner. There is the zoning issue. The site has to be zoned properly. Wagner says there is also a water issue. T h e Municip ality of South Huron and Bluewater have to have water avail- able. Effluent coming from the ethanol plant will concern the Ministry of Environment and probably the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority, according to Wagner. The Hensall District Co-op will be involved once the ethanol plant comes to Hensall. "We hope to supply corn to them as well as other ser- vices like trucking , railcar movement, grading, receiv- ing and storage," says Wagner. Wagner says the co-op is willing to be involved in anyway possible. "I think it's a tremendous opportunity that we should be working on," says Wagner. It's "one of the biggest investments that's good for Huron County and the com- munity," Wagner adds. "It should have a positive impact on the price of corn based on an import rather than an export." Wagner says a public from Bluewater and Commercial Alcohols Inc. attending. A date has not yet been set. "We haven't gotten the shovel into the ground yet but the process of getting the shovel into the ground is there" — BOB HALLAM HURON COUNTY CORN PRODUCERS' ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT "It should have a positive impact on the price of corn based on an import rather than an export." — EARL WAGNER HENSALL DISTRICT CO-OP CEO REGIONAL WRAP UP Blyth soon welcomes Vicki Gabereau BLYTH — Vicki Gabereau is appearing for an informal chat and brunch at the Blyth Festival on July 15, according to The Citizen. Gabereau, the host of series, "Gabereau Live," has won several awards and will be sharing many stories about her accomplishments. The National Speakers Bureau describes Gabereau as "...the kind of person who makes friends wherever she goes." This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so be sure to get your tickets now for brunch with Gabereau at the Blyth Festival for $30. The brunch is limited to only 150 people. One man, 50 blood donations SEAFORTH — Hank Van Dietan, a Seaforth-area farmer was recognized by Canadian Blood Services for giving blood since 1979, as reported in the Huron Expositor. The 48 -year-old man says "it's something you can do for free. It's a good cause, basi- cally. It's something that didn't take a whole lot of effort." Dieten also said that wherever he donates, whether it be in Mitchell, Clinton or Seaforth, he always sees familiar faces, and is sure there are many other people who deserve the same recognition. Oprah inspires Colbourn student GODERICH — Devin Heubner went home from school after being teased for "looking like a girl," according to the Signal Star. As he watched Oprah with his mother, he saw a young girl on the show who had can- cer, and was teased about being bald. Heubner then decided to cut his hair, and will be donating 100 per cent of his tips to the Canadian Cancer Society. "It's good to donate to the Cancer Society, because it will help people," Heubner said.