Independent Québec

Backing away from corn ethanol 8

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The big news north of the (U.S.) border is that Québec's government has decided that there is no future in corn ethanol.

As explained in an article posted on Canada's Cyberpresse website, back in May 2005 Québec's then Minister for Agriculture, Yvon Vallières, gave a green light, "for obvious economic and ecological reasons," to the construction of the first plant to manufacture ethanol from corn kernels, in the town of Varennes.

However, during an emission of the Enquête television program (click to view) on Radio-Canada last Thursday evening, Québec's Minister for Natural Resources, Claude Béchard, promised that the 120-million-litre-per year Varennes plant would be the first and the last of its kind. "It is necessary to turn to other [feedstock] sources," he said. No other ethanol factory based on corn will be built in Québec.

On Sunday, a leader in one of Montreal's newspapers, The Gazette expressed satisfaction with the decision, declaring, "Backing away from ethanol makes sense."

This impressive reversal of policy, which seems to have pitted the ministries for Agriculture and the Environment against each other, occurs at the time when more and more voices around the world -- and in Québec -- are speaking out against the diversion of corn for transport fuel.

Québec itself has precious little good arable land (mainly along the St. Lawrence River), and not everybody in la belle province is happy with devoting an increasing proportion of it to grow corn for biofuels. Québec's Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment, and Parks, Line Beauchamp, has also expressed concerns over "the environmental impacts related to the intensive cultivation of corn."

Moreover, earlier this year, an expert panel convened by Health Canada to look at the effects on air quality of ethanol blended fuels concluded that, well, it was pretty much a wash:

Some of the observed air quality benefits of ethanol-blend fuel include reduced emissions of carbon monoxide (CO) and exhaust hydrocarbons, and the displacement of some air toxics such as benzene. However, advances in emission control technology over the years have reduced the relative advantage of ethanol as a cleaner fuel. In addition, there are some concerns over potential human exposure to certain other emissions related to the use of ethanol-blend fuel (e.g., ethanol, acetaldehyde, formaldehyde, peroxyacetyl nitrate).

For now, Québec will retain its regulation that all gasoline contain 5 percent ethanol (by volume) by 2012, and the owner of the Varennes plant, GreenField Ethanol, will still benefit from various federal (up to C$0.10 per litre) and provincial (up to C$0.185 per litre, but only if the price of crude oil drops) production subsidies for ethanol. The province will also continue to support pilot projects to produce ethanol from cellulose material (Québec produces a lot of forest waste) and household waste.

The Gazette is not impressed, however. "Instead of flirting with absurd five-per-cent solutions," it writes, "Québec should put its efforts into conservation. The way to reduce emissions is to reduce use, and higher fuel prices and tougher efficiency standards will accomplish that."

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  1. infp Posted 9:18 am
    13 Nov 2007

    Freedom bacon anyone?Does this mean that the U.S. Congressional cafeteria will refuse to serve Candaian bacon?  Freedom bacon anyone?  

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  2. Biodiversivist's avatar

    Biodiversivist Posted 11:17 am
    13 Nov 2007

    I have a funny feelingthis is just to free up land for rapeseed based biodiesel. Imperium claims they can buy up most every drop Canada can produce.  Biofuel Bob is thinking it all over in his dreams.

    In the end, it all comes down to biodiversity. Poison Darts--Protecting the biodiversity of our world

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  3. Ron Steenblik Posted 11:32 am
    13 Nov 2007

    Alberta boundRapeseed ("canola" in Canada) is produced mainly in the Prairie Provinces, with a little bit prouced in northeastern B.C. Here's a map, courtesy of the USDA.

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  4. Biodiversivist's avatar

    Biodiversivist Posted 12:12 pm
    13 Nov 2007

    So much for that conspiracy theoryTake a look at this example of government leadership:

     http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=50 ...
    U.S. Senators Byron Dorgan (D-ND) and Richard Lugar (R-IN) have introduced legislation that will significantly impact the auto industry by requiring automakers nation-wide to produce more "flex fuel" vehicles that can run on biofuels. The benchmark goal is to get 50 percent of the auto fleet using biofuels by 2012 and increase gradually to 80 percent by 2015.
    Senator Lugar emphasized that it will take strong government leadership to help accelerate development and use of biofuels to complement today's corn-based ethanol production.
    Cosponsors for the bill include Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA),

    In the end, it all comes down to biodiversity. Poison Darts--Protecting the biodiversity of our world

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  5. Ron Steenblik Posted 1:25 pm
    13 Nov 2007

    It's called picking winnersOr, "Betting in a horse race with other people's money, some of it your grandchildren's."

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  6. justlou Posted 8:50 pm
    13 Nov 2007

    More Flex Fuel VehiclesAdd more FFVs and ramp up the percentage of ethanol blends from 10% upward to 20% and beyond.  People are balking at the lousy mileage they get in 85% ethanol.  But find that magic dilution percentage that hides the poorer fuel economy with the right price and people will buy it and think they are getting a deal.  Call it "tastes great, more filling".  Or do something to make people think they are using less foreign oil while they are using just as much or more foreign oil.  Or technocratizing the can down the road under the banner of freedom. Or if you ain't got vision, muddle on and build on illusion.  

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  7. Ron Steenblik Posted 9:31 pm
    13 Nov 2007

    Already been doneJustlou, the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition is already on the job. Here's a bumper sticker for FFVs that people can order from the NEVC's website. And I'm sure that they do not intend it the least bit ironically:
    http://www.e85fuel.com/imgs/promo_item_graphics/ethanol_guzzler_bumper_sticker.gif

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  8. Sam Wells Posted 1:55 am
    14 Nov 2007

    peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN)PAN is some nasty stuff, and secondary reaction of burning fuels such as alcohols.  Not only a toxic and irritant on its own, it can cause ozone reactions far downwind of the emissions source.  It would be interesting to see if PAN is affecting the situation with the arctic ice shelf.  /sam

    Onward through the fog

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