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Green & Go Launch

The Cowichan Bio-Diesel Team is excited to announce the openings of its newest Green & Go​™ pump at Cowichan Petroleum Sales. Check back on this website for more info on the upcoming opening.

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FUNdraiser for Cowichan Bio-Diesel Coop & Miles Phillips

5/8/2014

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PictureMiles Phillips (left) with his wife Angela (right) and his two lovely girls
When we first moved to the Cowichan Valley some 8 years ago, we were driving a little Jetta that ran on bio-diesel. It wasn’t long before we had bought a diesel van that had been converted to run on veggie oil (to meet the needs of our expanding family) and had joined the Cowichan Bio-Diesel Co-op (the Co-op or CB-DC) to support locally produced, sustainable biofuels. Living, as many of us do here in the Valley, on a rural property, means long drives to get to Duncan, school, and services, and running our vehicle on altrrnative fuel helps ease the guilty conscience that comes with lots of driving. To date, the Co-op together with its supporting partner the Cowichan Energy Alternatives Society (CEA) has prevented over 800 tonnes of carbon emissions from entering the atmosphere by supplying the community with its recycled cooking oil biofuels.

At the best of times it’s not easy running a social enterprise focused on sustainable solutions, not profit. Then last summer I heard that the offices of the Co-op and CEA were broken into. Not just once, but five times, despite repeated requests from the tenants to make the building more secure. The CB-DC offices suffered the loss of thousands of dollars in stolen property and damages. “Our insurance had a $1000 deductible for each break-in and did not insure personal property so in the end we were not reimbursed for anything- it was a complete loss” says Brian Roberts, Co-op President.

In November, CEA was denied the essential Gaming Grant funding on which it relies for delivering their programs, leaving them without core funding. Nearly six months after sending a request to review the decision, CEA has still not received an answer from the Province. Then at the start of the new year the Co-op’s biofuel pump broke down which forced closure and expensive equipment repairs of the Co-op’s biofuels pump located. This left the Co-op without the much-needed biofuel distribution pump at Cowichan Petroleum Services, and the loss of its main source of revenue for several months.
After hearing about these difficulties I began brainstorming about organizing a fundraiser to help out the struggling organization. When I shared my ideas with Brian from the Co-op, he requested that we also extend the fundraiser to include a family in need.

With the unexpected and tragic death of Miles Phillips, the timing of a fundraiser could not be more appropriate. Philips, who was the financial manager of CEA and CB-DC, has left behind a wife and two daughters now coping with grief and in serious financial difficulties. The Co-op is already supporting a campaign to raise money for the family.

You can donate on-line at: hhttp://www.smellbetter.org/1/post/2014/03/fundraising-for-miles-phillips-family.html

In the spirit of giving, there will be a community dance event taking place May 31st at the HUB in Cowichan Station, 5pm-11pm. There will live music from Bijou de Bayou, Paradigm Shifters, the Twisted Vine String Band and more, a silent auction, food, beverages and kids activities. Proceeds will be split between the family of Miles Phillips, and the Cowichan Bio-Diesel Co-op. We are suggesting a donation of $25 at the door, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds or for donating more!

It’s not every community that is blessed with its own locally produced, sustainable biofuel service as we are here in Cowichan. Let’s keep our Co-op going, and providing the essential service it does, and help out a struggling family at the same time.

Come demonstrate your support and the resilience of our Cowichan community! See you there!

Blog Post Submitted By:
Genevieve Charbonneau
[email protected]
http://twistedvinefarm.ca



4 Comments

Winter is here! Biodiesel Cold Flow Issues and Solutions

12/11/2013

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Picture
As a result of the abnormally cold conditions over the last week we’ve been experiencing unprecedented cold-flow issues with biodiesel.  At this time of year we strongly recommend lowering your biodiesel ratio to B50 at most – meaning that you must mix your biodiesel with at least 50% regular diesel to ensure the fuel continues to flow well in the winter months.  In past years, those most die-hard Co-op members (myself included!) who have decided to use B100 (100% biodiesel) anyway have still been able to use 100 percent biodiesel without significant cold flow issues.  That is not the case this year.

While we typically have not had issues in past winters with our fuel, this year demand for our biofuel has been outpacing our ability to supply all the biodiesel from our own Co-op micro-brew facility at Bings Creek.  As a result we have had to bring in additional supplies from partner biodiesel producers which have not had the same degree of cold-flow tolerance as the biodiesel we produce ourselves.  This, along with an abnormally cold spell, has resulted in greater cold flow issues than normally experienced.

As a result, the cardlock pump at CPS has been shut down to prevent members from filling up with B100 during these cold conditions.  The reason is two-fold:  First, we need to make sure we protect you from the risk that your vehicle may not run when temperature drop below freezing.  Next, we have to ensure we do not damage some very expensive pumps at the Co-op’s cardlock at CPS if the biodiesel gets too thick and over-strains the equipment.  Unfortunately, this option does not help us continue to offer you the biodiesel you joined the Co-op for.
There is another option:  to temporarily change the biodiesel ratio at the cardlock to a B50 blend.  This solves two problems at once:  It ensures our members have no risk of accidentally using too high a ratio that leaves their vehicle stranded if the temperature drops too low again, and; it ensures that we can keep the pump open without the risk of a Co-op member inadvertently damaging the pump by using it during another cold snap. Winter maintenance at CPS revealed some technical challenges with the pump and we will let our valued members know as soon as the pump is back up and running.  

After careful consideration of the options, the Co-op board and staff have decided to temporarily change the blend from B100 to B50 at our cardlock on Allenby Road. Once we are safely out of this cold weather, we will again offer the pure biodiesel option.  I welcome any feedback on your experiences with the biodiesel during this cold period and on the Co-op’s decision to offer a B50 blend at this time.

As is out tradition during the holiday season, we will be having a Co-op member social before Christmas where you will have an opportunity to share your thoughts with the board and staff, and to hear ours as well.  We will also be going over the year in review and discussing the course for the Co-op’s future.  Please keep an eye on your inbox for the invitation!

Best wishes for the season,

Brian Roberts, President, 

Cowichan Biodiesel Co-op

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    CB-DC’s waste oil is collected from local restaurants using vegetable oil. They are part of our Eat Better Locations program. It’s a win-win situation, because when we EAT BETTER, our vehicles SMELL BETTER. 

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