Grand opening ceremonies planned for 2 biodiesel facilities

July 22, 2011

BY Ron Kotrba

Two small-scale biodiesel refineries are set to hold ribbon-cutting ceremonies this summer: one, a community-scale unit located at a waste management facility on Vancouver Island, Canada; the other, a research facility in Catawba County, N.C.

On July 27, Bing’s Creek Biofuels Facility at CVRD Solid Waste Management Facility in Duncan, Vancouver Island, owned by the Cowichan Bio-Diesel Co-operative, which has been supplying biodiesel from WVO to its members for six years, will hold a grand opening ceremony to celebrate local, sustainable biodiesel production. The new processor will “close the sustainable fuels loop in the Cowichan Valley,” the co-op said, by taking waste cooking oil from area residents and restaurants for conversion to biodiesel. The locally produced fuel will be available for sale to co-op members at the 2999 Allenby Road card lock. The cooperative’s motto is, “We eat locally, and so do our cars.” The ceremony will be held at 3900 Drinkwater Road in Duncan at 2:30 p.m. For more information, contact Jessy Bradish.

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In Catawba County, N.C., a partnership between the county and Appalachian State University is planning to commemorate the completion of the Catawba County-Appalachian State University Biodiesel Research, Development and Production Facility on Aug. 15. The complex includes crush abilities and a biodiesel production capacity of 100,000 gallons per year. Research will include growing crops around the Blackburn Landfill at the EcoComplex to test which feedstocks grow best in the local climate and produce the best oil for biodiesel; dynamometer emissions and energy value testing and algae development. The celebration will take place Aug. 15 at 11:30 a.m., at the Catawba County EcoComplex & Blackburn Landfill, 4017 Rocky Ford Road, Newton, N.C. There will be a ribbon-cutting followed by presentations and a catered lunch. Tours of the complex will begin at 1:00 p.m. For more information, contact Brandy Watts.

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