GoodFuels

Canada setting positive example

In Canada, yesterday, with the IGPC farmer- owned ethanol plant in Ontario holding its official opening, Canada has now passed the one billion litres per year production level for ethanol. This marks the halfway point towards hitting the federal renewable fuel standard target of 5% renewable content in gasoline by 2010.

And, last week, Alberta (the Canadian province which produces over one million barrels of oil per day, has reserves of crude second only to Saudi Arabia in the world, and is the single largest exporter of oil to the U.S.) announced they are moving to a renewable fuel standard of 5% ethanol and 2% biodiesel by 2010; a very significant development. This province is building on their strong energy and agricultural sectors, moving towards creating new green jobs and diversifying both industries. Not only is Alberta a large producer of wheat and canola for ethanol and biodiesel production, respectively, but as was announced this past June, the Edmonton municipal landfill will see the world’s first commercial-scale waste to ethanol facility being built there next year.

Both positive announcements show Canada continues to grow beyond oil.