Location sticking point for ethanol plant

Friday, July 29, 2011

by BETTER FARMING STAFF

For an ethanol plant proposed for Oshawa harbour, its location is everything to both opponents and the people who want to build the facility.

For Oshawa residents opposed to the plant, the public consultation period on the Environmental Assessment Screening Report related to an Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) application for funding for the 210 million litre ethanol fuel production facility has now been extended to August 12, 2011.

Whatever the outcome, proponents of the plant have no other site in mind.

Dan O’Connor, president of FarmTech Energy Corporation, said the harbour location that is drawing so much opposition was chosen because it affords access to a deep-sea port.

“We’ve determined that this is the best site we could possibly build the plant on.” he said, “because of its location and its access to the deep sea port. It’s a full seaway depth port. You can move a lot of material through the port, either ethanol, distiller grains or corn itself.” He said they will need about 500,000 tonnes of corn to operate the plant and just 350,000 can be sourced locally, meaning they will have to bring the balance.

The move to build the $185-million plant on 12 hectares of harbour land has been widely condemned by local ratepayers, environmental groups, waterfront enthusiasts and by many local political representatives, including Oshawa mayor John Henry.

Mayor Henry has been quoted as saying his issue is with the plant's location, not the plant itself.

FarmTech Energy Corporation and FarmTech Growers Co-Op says the co-op consists of local farmers and other members of the community. They argue the plant will be state of the art and environmentally friendly.

“These plants produce zero process water discharge; any water used in the ethanol process is actually recycled through the process and used again,” states FarmTech’s website. “There is no effluent released that would be harmful to the environment or any of the plants neighbours . . . There are no waste products from the process.”

The website indicates the plant’s main suppliers “will represent more than 1,700 corn growers/farmers from Highway 400 east to Belleville. More than 800 members of the local community will own and operate the ethanol facility as a co-op.”

AAFC is considering an application by FarmTech Energy Corporation under the ecoAgriculture Biofuels Capital initiative (ecoABC) for financial assistance to construct and operate the facility. BF