The Media Room

Natural Resources Canada

2009/23

April 15, 2009


Government of Canada Provides
New Funding for Tiverton Ethanol Plant

TIVERTON, ONTARIO — Ben Lobb, Member of Parliament for Huron–Bruce, on behalf of the Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Natural Resources, today announced that the Government of Canada’s ecoENERGY for Biofuels program will provide up to $14 million for GreenField Ethanol’s facility in Tiverton.

“This investment is an example of how our Government is working for families in Tiverton,” said Mr. Lobb. “This funding will help create local jobs and economic opportunities for local businesses, both of which are more important than ever given the current global recession. In the long run, increasing our supply of cleaner fuels will also reduce greenhouse gasses and contribute to a healthier environment for all Canadians.”

The ecoENERGY for Biofuels program supports the production of renewable alternatives to gasoline and diesel and encourages the development of a competitive domestic industry for renewable fuels.  The program provides an operating incentive to facilities that produce renewable alternatives to gasoline and diesel in Canada.

Compared to gasoline, grain-based ethanol can reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by up to 40 percent on a lifecycle basis. For biodiesel, the emissions reduction can be as much as 60 percent.

“These funds will help GreenField Ethanol in our mission to utilize innovative technologies to help broaden Canadians’ fuel choices,” said Robert Gallant, President and CEO of GreenField. “This investment will also result in greater workplace opportunities for the Tiverton community.”

Through the ecoENERGY for Biofuels program, the Government of Canada will invest a total of $1.5 billion over nine years to encourage the development of a strong, competitive renewable fuels industry in Canada. The government has also provided $500 million to Sustainable Development Technology Canada for the creation of the NextGen Biofuels Fund.

The Government of Canada is also reducing emissions and creating new economic opportunities through investments such as the five-year, $1-billion Clean Energy Fund and the $1-billion Green Infrastructure Fund.

These initiatives are part of the government’s Economic Action Plan and will provide additional economic stimulus while accelerating progress toward a cleaner, more sustainable energy future for Canadians.


FOR BROADCAST USE:

The Government of Canada is providing up to $14 million in new funding to an ethanol plant in Tiverton, Ontario. Ben Lobb, M.P. for the Ontario riding of Huron–Bruce, says the new investment will help create local jobs and economic opportunities for local businesses as well as provide cleaner fuels to reduce Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions.

Media may contact:

Jasmine MacDonnell

Director of Communications

Office of the Minister

Natural Resources Canada

Ottawa

613-996-2007

Media Relations

Natural Resources Canada

Ottawa

613-992-4447

Megan Johnson

Communications

GreenField Ethanol

416-304-1700 ext. 8431
m.johnson@greenfieldethanol.com

NRCan's news releases and backgrounders are available at www.nrcan.gc.ca/media/index-eng.php.