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Where Things Stand - Let’s welcome bio-diesel, nuclear power
Mac Olsen
South Peace News
Let’s give Stan Peacock a round of applause for his entrepreneurial spirit to build a biodiesel fuel plant in the Peace River region.
Peacock, the president of All Peace Industries Inc., is seeking letters support for his funding applications to build the plant and the M.D. of Big Lakes has seen fit to provide one. The Town of High Prairie provided a letter of support to him a couple of years ago and I hope an updated letter will be forthcoming.
Peacock is going to meet Fort McMurray-Athabasca MP Brian Jean in Fort McMurray June 26 to request financial assistance under the federal government’s Green Infrastructure Fund. Jean is sitting on several billion dollars worth of infrastructure money, so he should open the purse strings for this $50 million project. It’ll show he cares about economic development and jobs in this part of the riding, not to mention his government’s commitment to “green” technology development and utilization.
Peacock expects 45 jobs would be created in the plant and another 45 indirect jobs would be created, too. He has licensed the technology for the plant from The Power Alternative, a company in Warren, Michigan. The company would build the plant and train the staff, as well as remain a long-term partner in the plant. A seed crush plant would also be built in the same location.
He is also pursuing the development of the stinkweed, Pennycress, which would be used in the fuel’s production. His other company, The Green Fuel Company Inc., controls the research and production of the seed. However, Peacock is partnering with Olds College, the University of Alberta and provincial government’s Agricultural and Rural Development department for the research.
The plant and Pennycress are timely opportunities. The provincial government’s Renewable Fuel Standard mandates a two per cent renewable content in diesel fuel effective July 1, 2010, so Peacock’s plans would help meet that mandate.
In essence, Peacock is a visionary in “green” energy technology and we owe it to him to support his vision.
While I’m on the subject of “green” energy technologies, there is one energy source which should be shunned – wind power. Having seen the giant windmills on the side of mountains west of Lethbridge, I can only say they’re absolutely ugly and ruin the scenic view. I do not want large wind turbines dotting the landscape and destroying the view of the horizon around here.
Environmentalists say wind power is a sound alternative to fossil fuels. But the availability of wind power is very unpredictable and I wouldn’t want to rely on it for my residence. Moreover, solar power, geothermal power and even nuclear power are more viable and don’t cause the “eye pollution” as large wind turbines do.
It’s unfortunate the proposed nuclear plant near Peace River fell through because that could have met the region’s growing power needs for generations to come. But with any luck, someday, a plant will be built somewhere in the region. One large nuclear plant in one location would be more far appropriate than having thousands of wind turbines dotting vast areas of the region. Also, nuclear power is far more consistent and predictable than wind power.
So, let’s get on the “green” energy bandwagon by supporting entrepreneurs like Peacock and other practical energy alternatives like solar, geothermal and nuclear power.
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