Membership fees for the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association (CRFA) have tripled from 2006 to 2007. Though the fees increased "considerably," according to CRFA Chairman Bliss Baker, the organization is successfully working toward its ultimate goals. "The membership continues to grow, and the scope of our activities continues to grow," he told EPM. Baker is also the vice president of Greenfield Ethanol, which has a full CRFA membership.

According to the CRFA Web site, this year's full membership is $75,000, an associate membership is $15,000 and an honorary membership is $5,000. Biofuels producers are charged one-fifth of a cent per liter of their production or $75,000, whichever is greater. In 2006, the fee schedule was $25,000 for a full membership, $5,000 for an associate membership and $1,000 for an honorary membership, said Shelly Thrasher, director of operations for CRFA.

The decision to increase membership fees was made jointly among the CRFA's board and membership, Baker said. It's part of an effort to model the organization after the Renewable Fuels Association based in Washington D.C., which he credited for some of the CRFA's early success.

At press time, the organization had a total of 10 full memberships, including Suncor Energy Products; 10 associate memberships, including Shell Canada Products; and eight honorary memberships. More membership renewals were expected as it was still the beginning of the year, Thrasher said.

Okanagan Biofuels Inc. is one future ethanol producer that hasn't renewed its membership for 2007 yet—though it does plan to do so in the future, said Richard Marshall, director of the ethanol company. At the current rates, a start-up ethanol company would have to think about the added cost. However, once the company is producing ethanol, that will likely change, he said.

Agricore United, Canada's largest grain handler, has an associate membership with the CRFA. "I do not believe that the dues are out of line with other associations and the benefits provided," said Cam Dahl, government relations and policy development officer for the company.