The Media Room
Natural Resources Canada
2010/10
March 2, 2010
Government of Canada Invests in Quebec Biofuels
VARENNES, QUEBEC — Steven Blaney, Member of Parliament for Lévis–Bellechasse, today announced that the Government of Canada’s ecoENERGY for Biofuels program will provide the funding to GreenField’s Varennes ethanol facility to help strengthen the Canadian renewable fuel industry. The investment by the Government of Canada, of up to $79.75 million over seven years, will support the production of ethanol in Quebec, sustain job creation and help stimulate the economy.
“The Government of Canada is delivering results for families and workers in Varennes,” said Mr. Blaney. “By investing in this project, we are helping to create and sustain local jobs and economic opportunities while encouraging a healthier environment for all Canadians.”
Compared with gasoline, grain-based ethanol can reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by up to 40 percent on a life-cycle basis. For biodiesel, the emissions reduction can be as much as 60 percent.
GreenField’s Varennes facility will produce about 145 million litres of ethanol a year.
“These investments will help GreenField to broaden Canadian's fuel choices, thereby reducing GHG emissions,” said Bob Gallant, President and CEO, GreenField Ethanol. “Ethanol production creates jobs for the local community and income for Quebec growers. GreenField is proud to be a part of Quebec's bioeconomy and Quebec's only ethanol producer.””
The Government of Canada will invest up to $1.5 billion over nine years through the ecoENERGY for Biofuels program. The Government of Canada’s Economic Action Plan also dedicates $1 billion to the Clean Energy Fund and $1 billion for the Green Infrastructure Fund to provide additional economic stimulus while promoting a cleaner, more sustainable energy future for Canadians.
FOR BROADCAST USE:
The Government of Canada will provide up to $79.75 million in funding over seven years to an ethanol plant in Varennes, Quebec. M.P. Steven Blaney said this funding will help sustain local jobs and economic opportunities for local businesses as well as provide cleaner fuels to reduce Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Media may contact:
Margaux Stastny
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister
Natural Resources Canada
Ottawa
613-996-2007
or
Media Relations
Natural Resources Canada
Ottawa
613-992-4447
or
Debra Conlon
Director, Corporate Communications
GreenField Ethanol
647-501-6556
d.conlon@greenfieldethanol.com
The general public may contact:
Mon.–Fri., 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. EST
Telephone: 613-995-0947
TTY: 613-996-4397
(teletype for the hearing-impaired)
E-mail: questions@nrcan.gc.ca
The following media backgrounder is available at www.nrcan.gc.ca/media/index-eng.php.
NRCan's news releases and backgrounders are available at www.nrcan.gc.ca/media/index-eng.php.