Biodiesel Project shows Promise in Northern Maine
Contact: David Munson 581-3777; Peter Sexton 764-3361
UMaine Cooperative Extension Crops Specialist Peter Sexton’s expertise has played a key role in examining biodiesel as an alternative form of energy in Northern Maine. Working through a cooperative arrangement with the Presque Isle consulting firm Regent Associates, he contributed to a feasibility study for the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians that may make northern Maine a key supplier of refined biodiesel products throughout the state.
According to Regent’s John Cancelarich, the proposed facility would produce five million gallons of biodiesel per year for distribution in the state of Maine. While the state’s current production of oils crops like soybeans and canola are too low to support such a facility at present, the processing plant would create a demand that could be a boon to Maine farmers.
“Maine does not produce enough to supply the plant with the present acreage, but we would expect that acreage to double or even triple within a short time,” said Cancelarich. “The operation would start off by processing mostly what’s called raw, degummed soy oil from out of state, that would be made into biodiesel and distributed by rail within the state.”
Cancelarich said that tentative agreements had already been made regarding markets for the fuel, and that he, Sexton, and representatives of the Maliseet would be formally approaching investors beginning in January.
From contributing to the initial grant proposal to outlining the potential for oil crop production in the state, Sexton’s involvement in the project contributed valuable research data, field expertise, and the considerable scientific and communication infrastructures of the UMaine Cooperative Extension, helping to make a good idea into a workable proposal. Sexton is currently pursuing another research project that is testing the viability of Maine-grown canola and other oil crops as potential sources of raw material for the manufacture of biodiesel.