Farmer based biodiesel co-op is coming

Everdale, PURE (Power Up Renewable Energy Cooperative) and Swift Creek Oil Corp., are working together to develop a local, agriculturally-based network of biodiesel producers and consumers. The EVERPURE Biodiesel Co-op membership will be made up of:

- Farmers who will supply vegetable oil feedstocks from their fields and take back biodiesel fuel for use in their farm vehicles.

- Restaurant operators who will rent virgin oils from the co-op (first use), return them as used cooking oils, and may take back biodiesel fuel for use in diesel-fueled vehicles.

- End-users in and around Orangeville who drive diesel-fueled vehicles (including many farmers).

The motivation for this project fall close to home for Ontario farmers. It will give the farmers a much-needed financial boost, help them capture the increasing value of renewable energy, and reduce their conventional energy costs. The key feature of this proposal is its smallscale, its accessibility for farmers of modest means, and its suitability for the vehicle of a cooperative, owned and democratically controlled by farmers, as well as the use of a waste product (used cooking oil) to manufacture the fuel.

Summer Workshop

Everdale will be offering a Make your own Biodiesel Reactor! workshop this summer June 15-17. For more information on the workshop go to www.everdale.org or contact Lynn Bishop at lynn@everdale.org 519-855- 4859, ext. 101. If you are interested in growing biodiesel-fuel crops, or using biodiesel in your vehicle, farm equipment, or for home heating contact Jay Mowatt at 519-833-7238.