Ethanol delay frustrates farmers

The group of about 40 Prince Edward Island farmers who were set to plant sugar beets this spring are wondering why government appears to be letting go of this new crop opportunity.

Atlantic Bioenergy Corporation (ABC) wants to build an $85-million ethanol plant in Borden-Carleton, but told The Guardian it will not be going ahead with a sugar beet crop on P.E.I. this year.

ABC first wants the province to mandate a 10 per cent ethanol blend (E10) in Island gasoline, but is not asking for any funding.

The province has said nothing will go ahead until public consultations have been conducted, but the company needs sugar beets in the ground by May 1.

So the company is packing up its gear and moving on.

New planter machinery arrived on the Island last week (week of March 17), but Ron Coles, public relations manager for ABC, said it will be shipped to Halifax to await its final destination. ABC will announce where that will be this week.

Were in discussions with a couple of other areas in Canada that have a farm community that needs help and their governments are looking for a project like this to come to revitalize their farm community, Coles said.

Fred Martens, a local farmer who was involved in last years 40-acre test crop of sugar beets, is disappointed with what he believes is a lack of vision from the province.

In six weeks there could be a crop in the ground, he said. We have acreage that weve set aside for production of sugar beets this year.

Biofuels is not going to go away just because youve got a few politicians in Charlottetown that feel they need some time, while other politicians are saying weve got to act now and get to it, because the opportunity is now.

Martens especially took exception to comments made by Development Minister Richard Brown on a local TV newscast in which Brown commented on a report from the Environmental and Renewable Industries Committee (ERIC) that stated ethanol production is not as viable for PEI as other biofuels industries.

During the broadcast, Brown mentioned that PEI could possibly purchase cheaper ethanol from places like Brazil, which is one reason the government doesnt want to rush into a local ethanol plant.

Were wanting to talk to him about some of the statements he made the other night on the news, Martens said. The ethanol can come in cheaper from Brazil? The people will be up in arms. If the food could come in cheaper from China or Brazil, then what are we farming for?

Martens said he believes ABCs plan to incorporate sugar beets into a four-year rotation with existing Island crops is a good one.

We feel we have a holistic approach. Were looking at this as a sustainability issue for farmers that want to get into biofuels.

Brown said hes simply worried about farmers getting into a crop they could lose money on.

Im not going to ask the farmers of PEI with the difficult time theyre having today to get into a crop that theyre not going to make any money on.

But Coles said in the plan ABC had with farmers, they would be guaranteed a price per acre.

(This article was originally published in The Guardian.)