July '99 Industry News

Terry Boland, Editor-in-Chief

Johnson Re-elected CRFA President
Jim Johnson, a past president of the Ontario Corn Producers’ Association (OCPA), has been re-elected to another one-year term as president of the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association (CRFA).

Joining Jim on the 1999/2000 board of directors and as the new national vice-president is Jeff Passmore, Iogen Corp. Passmore has played an important role in Canada’s involvement in the 1999 Ethanol Vehicle Challenge. Iogen Corp. is building a pilot ethanol manufacturing facility in the Ottawa area using agricultural waste as a feedstock.

Bob Peden of UPI Inc., the pioneering retailer for ethanol-blended fuels in Ontario, continues in his role as Ontario vice-president, with additional responsibilities as CRFA treasurer. Denis Couture, Federation des producteurs culture commerciales du Quebec, is Eastern Canadian vice-president and Zennith Faye, Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission is Western Canadian vice-president. Matt Janes, Commercial Alcohols Inc., continues as secretary.

The association has an exciting and ambitious schedule of events for 1999/2000. Some of the activities include:

Play a major role in hosting the 2000 Ethanol Vehicle Challenge which is scheduled to be held in Canada.
Complete year two of the Renewable Fuels Awareness program, including an education package, Internet materials, newsletters, fact sheets and expanding the biodiesel information portfolio.
Hosting the 2000 Fuel Ethanol Workshop International in Windsor, Ontario.

You can get more on ethanol, biodiesel and the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association on the Internet at http://www.greenfuels.org.

1999 Ethanol Vehicle Challenge
Our congratulations to the University of Waterloo Alternative Fuels Team (UWAFT) and their excellent showing of fourth place at the 1999 Ethanol Vehicle Challenge in Springfield, Illinois in late May. The UWAFT was the only participant from Canada, as opposed to 13 college and university teams from the United States.

While the team dropped two positions from their 1998 second place finish they did claim two significant awards in oral presentation and best engine-out emissions. Also our thanks to Natural Resources Canada, General Motors, the U.S. Department of Energy and Argonne National Labs for the high level of support for the event. The 1999 Ethanol Vehicle Challenge provided students with on-the-job training in converting a GM Silverado truck to E85 status. The Canadian Renewable Fuels Association was an event and team sponsor. The OCPA provided financial support to the team.

CNE
Get ready – the Canadian National Exhibition is only a short time away and promises to be better than ever. The 1999 CNE runs from August 20 through September 6 from 10 a.m. to 12 midnight, excluding Labour Day when buildings close at 10 p.m. Events include the Ambassador to the Fair Competition, Horse Show, Garden Show, Open Country Singing Contest and the Taste of the Country exhibits.