July 9, 2007

LETHBRIDGE, Alberta - Rick Casson, Member of Parliament for Lethbridge, 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 more than $416,000 in three southern Alberta projects to help the emerging biofuels industry.

"Canada's New Government is helping to ensure that producers are able to participate in and benefit from increased biofuels production in Canada," Mr. Casson said. "The renewable energy industry holds great potential for enhancing the economic prosperity of the communities of Lethbridge, Drumheller and Coalhurst."

Through the Biofuels Opportunities for Producers Initiative (BOPI), the three firms will receive funding to prepare feasibility studies and business plans to study the suitability of biofuels production according to location and needs in the industry.

"It's encouraging to see the federal government provide 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 biofuels production. The initiative helps agricultural producers and others 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.

Related Document:

• Backgrounder - Biofuels Opportunities for Producers Initiative funds three southern Alberta projects