The Rural Voice, 2003-03, Page 48Janice
Becker is a
computer
enthusiast
and
journalist
living near
Walton, ON.
As of this writing, American
President George W. Bush is still just
threatening action against Iraq.
Here at home, premiers continue to
negotiate with the federal
govemment about the cost and
implications of adhering to the Kyoto
accord.
Though the connection between
these two situations may not be
immediately obvious, to some
degree, both involve oil.
As Bush talks war to fight terror,
many believe it is more about secur-
ing a supply of the black gold. Kyoto,.
aimed at improving the environment
through the reduction of pollutants,
will hit the Canadian oil patch hard as
the government tries to cut emissions
from the burning of fossil fuels.
However, the move away from oil
may offer a shot at securing the
future for farmers. After hearing
Huron -Bruce MP Paul Steckle speak
of his hopes that the feds would allot
$400 million in the next budget for
funding of ethanol production, it
struck me that this industry could
both lessen North Americans'
dependence on OPEC and create a
ready market for the renewable
resource of corn and other products.
READY TO LAY
PULLETS
WHITE & BROWN EGG LAYERS
FISHER POULTRY FARM INC.
AYTON, ONT. NOG 1C0
519-665-7711
44 THE RURAL VOICE
AgriTech
Technologg for the future
In searching the net for
information on Canadian ethanol
circumstances, I discovered The
Seaway Valley project, www.glen-
net.ca/ethanol/, supported by the
Seaway Valley Farmers' Energy Co-
operative Inc. of Cornwall, which has
been trying for years to get a plant
constructed.
Within a few weeks the fate of the
plant will be determined when
officials hear whether they will be
receiving the $33 million financing
required. Otherwise, the project is
dead. For further details, see
www.agrinewsinteractive.com.
Closer to home, the very
successful enterprise of Commercial
Alcohols Inc., www.comalc.com,
which has been in operation since
1989, produces a combined total of
175 million litres of corn -based
ethanol at its Tiverton and Chatham
facilities. Chatham is on-line to
double production.
But why should we support the
expansion of such an endeavour?
Aside from the economic benefits of
a reliable market for grains,
employment and spin-off impacts for
regional businesses, ethanol is a
renewable fuel that can either be
added to gasoline or burned alone.
According to information on the
Canadian Renewable Fuels
Association (CRFA) site at
www.greenfuels.org/ethindex.html
the use of ethanol as an additive to
gasoline can reduce carbon monoxide
by 30 per cent With more smog
alerts issued each summer, the use of
ethanol purportedly also reduces the
ground -level ozone.
The Corn Fuel Ethanol Home
Page, www.ontariocorn.org/etha
home.html, supported by the Ontario
Corn Producers' Association, also
lists numerous reasons to back the
industry, both for economic and
environmental reasons. Even in the
late 1990s, there were more than 600
retail ethanol stations across the
country and 250 in this province.
Despite reported benefits, there is
often resistance to change or seem-
ingly obvious improvements, as
evident from the dissent shown by
some western industrialists to Kyoto.
Though Prairie farmers could benefit
from the ethanol industry, those em-
ployed by the oil companies could, if
the conversion were a success, see a
decline in business and many layoffs.
Also, the refining cost for ethanol
is currently still higher than gasoline,
said the CRFA site.
This is where we all have an
opportunity to speak up — look at the
whole picture. Though it can be very
difficult to vote for something that
could be directly detrimental to
oneself, sometimes long-term results
are more important.°
Contact me at jlbecker@wightman.ca
or through the Rural Voice office,
with feedback or topic suggestions.
The Rural Voice
welcomes your opinions for
our Feedback letters to the
editor column.
Mail to: The Rural Voice,
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INC.
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CROP ADVISOR
Andy de Vries: C.C.A.-ON
Office 519-348-1121
Jeff Bannerman C.C.A.-ON
Res. 519-291-5007
Nutrient
Management
Consulting
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