EDMONTON, Alberta - John Williams, Member of Parliament for Edmonton-St. Albert, on behalf of the Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board, today announced that Canada's New Government is investing $975,000 in four central Alberta projects to help the emerging biofuels industry.

"Canada's New Government recognizes the role renewable fuels will play in improving our environment for generations to come. It's especially fitting that we are announcing these projects to mark Environment Week," said Mr. Williams. "Projects like these will also advance the biofuels industry in Alberta. That's good news for farmers, their communities, and the environment."

Through the Biofuels Opportunities for Producers Initiative (BOPI), three of the four companies will receive funding to prepare feasibility studies, analyses, and business plans to study the suitability of biofuel production according to location and needs in the industry. Another company will study the economic feasibility of developing biofuels on a smaller scale.

"We're pleased the federal government is providing support to help these companies explore the vast potential for biofuel production and use," said Dee Ann Benard of the Agriculture and Food Council, which administers the BOPI program in Alberta. "These projects demonstrate how committed the Council is to our environment and to our agricultural sector."

BOPI is a two-year $20 million commitment by Canada's New Government designed to provide farmers and rural communities with opportunities to participate in, and benefit from, increased Canadian biofuel production. The initiative helps agricultural producers develop sound business proposals, as well as undertake feasibility or other studies to support the creation and expansion of biofuel production capacity. It is delivered through the industry councils in each province and territory that administer Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Advancing Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food Program.

In Budget 2007, Canada's New Government allocated $2 billion over seven years to support the production of renewable fuels. In addition, since coming to office, this government has announced $500 million to assist farmers and rural communities to seize new market opportunities in the bio-economy through biofuels and bio-products initiatives.

• Backgrounder - Biofuels Opportunities for Producers Initiative funds four Alberta projects