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But the Chrapko and Kotelko men have a much larger vision, Canada's first
integrated bio-refinery. Their project will burn the biogas to generate the
steam and electricity that will then be used to convert high-starch feed wheat
into fuel ethanol with the nutritious residue (known as "distiller's grains")
recycled to cattle at the nearby feedlot. Conventional fuel ethanol plants are
notoriously inefficient, using almost as much hydrocarbon energy as they
produce. Because Highmark's integrated process will be fuelled by organic
waste, and since the distillers grains don't require drying due to the proximity
of the feedlot, the plant will also be Canada's first ethanol producer with a
significantly positive energy balance.
Ethanol plants have also been criticized for diverting grain "from food to
fuel." Since Highmark's plant will produce ethanol from the low-grade grain
that was previously fed directly to the cattle, the residue of which is then
recycled back to the feedlot as distillers grains, there is no additional demand
on cropland.
In the words of Evan Chrapko, "now it's a food-and-fuel process, not food
versus fuel."
It won't come cheap. The completed plant is expected to cost about $100-
million, and there are several risks, including the price of ethanol, which
varies with the cost of gasoline and government policies for ethanol blending.
The economics also require the plant to earn credits under Alberta's
greenhouse gas reduction plan.
Highmark's vision goes well beyond this pioneering project. It plans six other
plants across the Prairies. The status quo is no longer an option. Innovation,
scientific advancement, vision and risk-taking ... more than grass and grain
grow from Prairie roots.