About the Island Biodiesel Co-op
Mission
The production and distribution of high quality biologically derived fuels, developing and following safe, sustainable and ecologically sound practices. We engage with the community and government in the education about, and promotion of sustainable solutions to energy needs.
Vision
Island Biodiesel Co-op is dedicated to the development and support of a local infrastructure for the production and distribution of BioDiesel and other biologically-derived fuels.
The development of sustainable energy sources is essential in the face of needed reductions in fossil carbon emissions to address the critical issue of climate change, and to help mitigate the impending reductions in the availability of fossil liquid fuel resources accompanying peak oil. The primary focus of the organization is the view that the existing fossil (think dinosaur) energy industry will not voluntarily change, and therefore we empower ourselves and our communities to discover and develop alternative fuel resources.
The reduced cost of fuels relative to conventional fossil-sources is a potential side benefit of our efforts, but is not a primary consideration in developing our practices.
Philosophy
Petroleum supply is becoming a major concern to consumers and governments alike. The indications are that supply and demand are becoming very close. If price and availability are both to remain stable, there is not much room for error or disruption. [related news article]
The major cause of excess greenhouse gas emissions is our society's addiction to using fossil fuel: 83 Million barrels per day of petroleum oil that are mostly being burned makes quite an impact. Evidence of how this destabilizes the climate on which we rely for our physical security is rapidly mounting. Transportation accounts for a high proportion of these emissions, and therefore is an important target of any reduction strategy.
By promoting the use of biodiesel, and developing this as an available resource, the Island Biodiesel Coop aims to:
- do our part to reduce carbon dioxide emissions
- help the biosphere to heal
- help Canadians meet their Kyoto commitments
We intend to pursue the development of biodiesel and other renewable fuels as completely sustainable resources. We intend to make this independent of the use of petroleum at any stage. After all, tractors, trucks and processors can all run on biodiesel too...
The Fine Print
The Island Biodiesel Co-op is incorporated under the British Columbia Cooperative Association Act. As required by the Act, we have filed a Memorandum of Association and adopted and filed Rules of the Island Biodiesel Co-op. All activities of the Island Biodiesel Co-op are regulated by these rules.