Ethanol expansion in Sarnia
Northern Ethanol has confirmed that construction of the $200-million facility in Sarnia will continue as planned reports the Sarnia Observer. The plant will have a capacity of 400 million litres of ethanol per year and it will sit on a 30 acre piece of land in Sarnia.

There has been much speculation that the project would not get underway due to the current economic downturn and financial constraints. However, Gordon Laschinger, president of Northern Ethanol told the Observer that they plan to start construction in July 2009. The plant is expected to take 18 months to build and provide jobs for 225 to 250 full-time trades workers.

GM conflict heats up in EU
Currently, MON801, a Monsanto genetically modified (GM) corn variety, is the only GM crop so far approved for use in Europe. However, France, Greece, Austria and Hungary are refusing to adhere to European Union (EU) legislation to allow its use, reports checkbiotech.org.

The body responsible for scientific risk assessment on GM crops, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), has reported no complaints against MON801. But Alison Abbott from checkbioteck.org reports that the committee of experts appointed by each of the EU countries was unable to agree whether to lift the bans in the offending countries. The committee must assemble a ‘qualified majority’ of 62 percent in order to force the countries to lift their bans on MON801, which is modified to be resistant to insects.

According to the World Trade Organization, the EU is denying access to the European market through these bans, which is against current trade agreements.

Global Renewable Fuels Alliance
A new federation representing over 60 percent of the world’s renewable fuels production from 29 different countries has been created. Alliance spokesperson, Bliss Baker addressed the audience at the National Ethanol Conference in February saying that the alliance is “committed to promoting the expanded use of renewable fuels throughout the world through the advocacy of sound public policy and responsible research.” He goes on to say that the members of the alliance are committed to producing renewable fuels with the smallest possible ecological footprint.

According to their website, www.globalrfa.org, the alliance plans on being an active participant in the ongoing debate at the international level regarding biofuel policies. They believe that ethanol can play an important role in meeting the future of global energy demand.