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Gathering at the site of a steel framework awaiting concrete, the crowd of twenty glowed with their high expectations for Northeast Biodiesel in the late morning sun. Forming themselves in a circle on the graded soil, the group of members, investors, supporters, and staff, one by one expressed their optimism for the work ahead. The thread that tied them together was their passion for community owned renewable energy, for a sustainable future.
Perhaps the most inspiring words of the day came from a man well invested in community scale biodiesel. Colin Hygate, President of Green Fuels Ltd., the manufacturer of Northeast Biodiesel’s fuel processer, made a special visit to the United States in order to build support for this project and others. “My experience has shown that locally based processing is right…”, he imparted with a casual English eloquence, “we’ve shown that your oil can be made right here, you don’t have to get it from the Middle East…this oil well is here for the community.”
Green Fuels specializes in small scale biodiesel technology designed to work with waste vegetable oil. With a range of processers that produce between 50 to 20,000 liters a day, Green Fuels exhibits the understanding that size matters. Hygate elaborated, “We have a very clear idea of sustainability…scale is most important to us”. Green Fuels has more than 6,500 processers in use worldwide and 20 of the scale of Northeast Biodiesel’s. Northeast Biodiesel’s “Fuelmatic”, as it is named, will be the first installed in the United States.
“We are so excited that Green Fuels is so aligned with our mission,” added Lynn, “finding partners who share our values is so important to us.” This is further exemplified in the recent partnership between Co-op Power and ReEnergizer of Holyoke, Massachusetts. ReEnergizer will collect and pre-process the waste vegetable oil for Northeast Biodiesel. In attendance was Peter Macavoy, president of ReEnergizer, “ReEnergizer is thrilled that it has found an organization of a like mind and we’re excited about working with Co-op Power and Northeast Biodiesel to make a difference.”
The difference is notable. From an empty lot, to a concrete framework, to (soon), a community owned biodiesel manufacturing facility producing 1.75 million gallons a year of clean fuel, Northeast Biodiesel has chosen the high road. The group gathered at Northeast Biodiesel could see the end in sight and no one was more excited than Plant Manager Tom Lueu, “This project is something we can all be proud of…it’s something the whole nation can look up to.” Co-op Power is showing that even a small community cooperative can be a shining example to others around this country.
The group resembled that of pioneers, people who are more interested in what could be rather than what has been. Though the project is not the first in scale or geography, it is certainly forging a path for community ownership of jobs and energy resources. “A community based project is different, because the people of the community can see how their involvement matters and have the resilience to see it to fruition.” remarked Co-op Power founding member and current board member Christian Lagier. “There is nothing that will stop us; it’s only a question of time.”
The gathering, planned on the day of the Co-op Power annual member-owner meeting, served as the official kick off to the Northeast Biodiesel fundraising campaign for the summer of 2011. With ambitious goals of raising seven hundred thousand in just under two months, President of Co-op Power and Interim President of Northeast Biodiesel Lynn Benander said, “We have the tools, the people, and the know-how; we are only limited by how much we can raise.” The limits, however, don’t seem to be factoring in to the equation. Since last the event, over $50,000 has been raised, with more commitments coming in often.
Perhaps the most inspiring words of the day came from a man well invested in community scale biodiesel. Colin Hygate, President of Green Fuels Ltd., the manufacturer of Northeast Biodiesel’s fuel processer, made a special visit to the United States in order to build support for this project and others. “My experience has shown that locally based processing is right…”, he imparted with a casual English eloquence, “we’ve shown that your oil can be made right here, you don’t have to get it from the Middle East…this oil well is here for the community.”
Green Fuels specializes in small scale biodiesel technology designed to work with waste vegetable oil. With a range of processers that produce between 50 to 20,000 liters a day, Green Fuels exhibits the understanding that size matters. Hygate elaborated, “We have a very clear idea of sustainability…scale is most important to us”. Green Fuels has more than 6,500 processers in use worldwide and 20 of the scale of Northeast Biodiesel’s. Northeast Biodiesel’s “Fuelmatic”, as it is named, will be the first installed in the United States.
“We are so excited that Green Fuels is so aligned with our mission,” added Lynn, “finding partners who share our values is so important to us.” This is further exemplified in the recent partnership between Co-op Power and ReEnergizer of Holyoke, Massachusetts. ReEnergizer will collect and pre-process the waste vegetable oil for Northeast Biodiesel. In attendance was Peter Macavoy, president of ReEnergizer, “ReEnergizer is thrilled that it has found an organization of a like mind and we’re excited about working with Co-op Power and Northeast Biodiesel to make a difference.”
The difference is notable. From an empty lot, to a concrete framework, to (soon), a community owned biodiesel manufacturing facility producing 1.75 million gallons a year of clean fuel, Northeast Biodiesel has chosen the high road. The group gathered at Northeast Biodiesel could see the end in sight and no one was more excited than Plant Manager Tom Lueu, “This project is something we can all be proud of…it’s something the whole nation can look up to.” Co-op Power is showing that even a small community cooperative can be a shining example to others around this country.  
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