Carleton County firms helping N.B. go green
Shawn Merrithew, BUGLE-OBSERVER Published Tuesday Febuary 3rd, 2009
Eastern Greenway Oils Inc. (EGO) in Waterville and Clark Oil Company Ltd. in Woodstock providing DoT with biofuel
A provincial going-green project in Woodstock will be beneficial to a couple of Carleton County businesses.
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Last week, the province announced a $215,000-trial project using biodiesel in 12 Department of Transportation vehicles, including school buses and snow plows. The project, funded through the New Brunswick Climate Action Fund, will reduce green-house gas emissions in the province, said Environment Minister Roland Haché. To make it all happen, the province is working with Eastern Greenway Oils Inc. (EGO) in Waterville and Clark Oil Company Ltd. in Woodstock. |
Transportation Minister Denis Landry said the testing of biodiesel originated in Woodstock because it would be easier to get supply from EGO and distributed by Clark Oil.
Peter Clark, owner of Clark Oil, said he is excited about the partnership.
The whole process began last spring, when the province sent out tenders on supplying biodiesel to DoT, Clark explained. Since it wasn't readily available, the province did not receive any bids.
But earlier last fall, EGO and Clark Oil officials got together and realized it could make the project happen.
"Clark Oil has signed a two-year contract with DoT for the pilot project," Clark said. "What we do is take the ultra-low sulfur diesel, which only has 15 parts per million of sulfur content, and we mix and inject a B100 additive, which is actually the bio product."
To mix the fuel, he explained, the diesel is loaded into a truck, which sits in a heated building for three days. The temperature is the key to the mixing process, he said. If the two products are various temperatures, he said, the biodiesel would not chemically mix.
"The temperature has to be about the same in the B100 as the diesel," he said. "So once the product (diesel) is warmed up, you add the warm B100 additive, mix it and pump it all around. Then it is ready for delivery. So long as you keep them within six degrees of each other, then they will mix properly and will not separate."
EGO business development manager Ray Carmichael is pleased to see the province is looking at using renewable fuels in it vehicles. While he would like to see more, he said, this project is definitely at start in the right direction.
"People have to have confidence and prove of performance," Carmichael said. "It is what's needed to get the awareness and confidence in the users that it will work."
Haché pointed out the project will be closely monitored to determine the serviceability of a five-per cent blend of biodiesel in the province's climate. He expects the use of biodiesel in DoT vehicles could result in an annual reduction of 2,000 tons of greenhouse-gas emissions.
Carmichael is looking forward to seeing the results. If it is a success, he said, the use of biodiesel could extend across the province, which would help build EGO's reputation.
"I think we have more confidence than anybody else it will work and it will happen," Carmichael pointed out. "As DoT gains more confidence and use (of biodiesel), they will expand it to more vehicles, and it will go."
Clark said he is looking forward to the results of the pilot, noting positive results could see biodiesel used across the province.
"I think the government would like to implement it across the province," Clark added. "It is great to see a couple of Carleton County companies to be able to be on the leading edge of this project."