To all Co-op members,supporters and friends,

As most of you know, Miles Phillips was killed in a tragic car crash on January 23 leaving behind his wife and two daughters.  Miles worked with the Co-op and contributed to many other local social enterprises, including our partners CEA and Greasecycle. The pursuit of environmental and social purposes is not always an easy or profitable one, and Miles’s family is currently in great need of financial help.  If you can find it in your heart to contribute something to the family you can do so by going to the link below.
 

Thanks so much from all of us at the Co-op.  

COWICHAN BIODIESEL BLENDING STATION (OFFICIAL OPENING)

2 PM THURSDAY, June 27th, 2013

Located at the CVRD Bings Creek Recycling Drop-Off Depot at 3900 Drinkwater Road, North Cowichan, British Columbia

Cowichan Energy Alternatives (CEA), the Cowichan Bio-Diesel Co-op (Co-op) and the Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) invite you to the official launch of Vancouver Island’s first and only biodiesel blending station - a local collection, processing and distribution center providing biofuel from waste cooking oils.

Please join us to celebrate this important step in creating an environmentally friendly and locally produced fuel source from recycled waste cooking oil. CEA Executives, CVRD officials, staff, and Co-op directors will be available to answer questions about this local sustainable biofuel solution. Guests and media will be able to see first-hand how sustainable biodiesel can be used to power the CVRD’s vehicle fleet. This station completes phase I of a sustainable fuel loop where recycled fryer oil is processed into biodiesel used to fuel diesel vehicles all at the same location. Phase II will add a point of sale system that allows the station to be accessed by Co-op and BC Biofuel Network members.

‘Sustainable Solution in Action’ - The Cowichan Biofuel Facility is a homegrown biodiesel processing and distribution centre, recycling locally collected commercial and residential waste cooking oils into environmentally-friendly biofuel for local users. This demonstration facility is the first of its kind in North America and a model for communities seeking sustainable solutions that support the development of a local low-carbon economy. It is the result of a unique partnership between the Cowichan Valley Regional District, Cowichan Bio-Diesel Co-op and Cowichan Energy Alternatives, and is part of the growing BC Biofuel Network.

Biodiesel in its pure form (B100) can entirely replace the usage of fossil fuels or it can be blended with regular diesel to whatever percentage blend is required. This makes biodiesel an important renewable energy solution that can be used now with existing diesel engine technology to immediately begin to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other harmful pollutants.

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Vancity launches new Clean Air Vehicle Loan effective December 11, 2012

December 11, 2012

Page Content

Overview:

Vancity’s Clean Air Auto Loan has been enhanced to better fulfill member needs for environmentally friendly vehicles.

Details:

Under the previous Clean Air Auto Loan, members could have only qualified for financing if they purchased a new energy efficient car. However, under this new Clean Air Vehicle loan members can purchase new or used low-CO2 energy  efficient autos, plus they can finance:

1.      Purchase of a vehicle for the purpose of installing an alternative fuel conversion system.

o   Fuel conversion system for: propane, electric, or straight vegetable oil (SVO) (bio-fuel).

2.      Purchase and installation of an alternative fuel conversion system in a members existing vehicle.

3.      Purchase of motorized or non-motorized bikes, including electric bikes, non-motorized bicycles and scooters.

The new Clean Air Vehicle Loan rewards members who choose vehicles that emit less carbon by offering preferential loan rates.  The member pricing for this loan is Vancity Prime + 1% for new automobiles, and Vancity Prime+2% for other Clean Air Vehicle loan choices.

Member and Staff Led Innovation

The loan product enhancements have been driven through member and staff led innovation. With the rise in popularity in alternate fuels and fuel conversion systems, members have been requesting financing for various green transportation options.  This new loan also fulfills staff requests for enhancements as illustrated in a Clean Air Vehicle Loan v-check submission.  

Also, competitively none of the major banks or credit unions offers such a loan for environmentally friendly vehicles and vehicle conversions.

The Clean Air Vehicle Loan positions Vancity as an environmental leader, and aligns with Vancity’s goal of working toward climate change solutions by reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

The CVS Victoria Cruise bus company is the first in North America to use 100% biodegradable fuel.

It buys that fuel directly from the Cowichan BioDiesel Co-op. The non-toxic biodegradable renewable gas made from the very canola oil that cooked the food those cruise passengers ate before riding on the bus.

A Victoria-based company called Greasecycle collects cooking oil from restaurants across Vancouver Island, including cruise ships, and brings it to CBC’s Bings Creek facility where it is processed into biodiesel. The bus company isn’t the only customer. In the past few years, CBC’s membership has grown from 20 to 170.......


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By Maeve Maguire - Cowichan News Leader Pictorial