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First biodiesel plant will be in foothills; Federal Ag Minister Chuck Strahl announces new biofuel funding program Okotoks Western Wheel Wed 25 Apr 2007 Page: 1 / FRONT Section: News Byline: John Barlow Source: Okotoks Western Wheel Edition: Final Story Type: Business Length: 359 words Illustration: Photo: Dean Cockshutt, president of Western Biodiesel Inc. speaks at a press conference Monday. ; Colour Photo: John Barlow, Okotoks Western Wheel / Federal Agriculture Minister Chuck Strahl announced the ecoAgriculture Biofuels Capital initiative at a press conference at the site of the new Western Biodiesel Inc. facility near High River on Monday morning. ; Alberta's first biofuels production facility will be in the foothills and it is expected to be operational by the end of 2007. On Monday morning federal Agriculture Minister Chuck Strahl announced the launch of the ecoAgriculture Biofuels Capital initiative (ecoABC) at the site of the new biofuels facility that is under construction in the Abild's Industrial Park on Highway 2A just north of High River. Also on hand at Monday's announcement were representatives from Western Biodiesel Inc, (WBI) the developers of the new biodiesel facility. "We are hoping to lead the industry," said Dean Cockshutt, president and CEO of Western Biodiesel Inc. "This has been fantastic. It has taken two years to get here. We have done this with our own resources and our own commitment. That is why we are determined to make this a success." Strahl said he was also confident the biofuel facility near High River will be a success. "The potential for this facility it a great one," said Strahl. "Biofuels are a win for the producers, a win for the environment, a win for rural communities and a win for Canadians." Strahl said the ecoABC program is proof the Canadian government is committed to improving the environment and helping stimulate the agriculture industry and rural communities. The ecoABC program is a $200 million initiative that will increase renewable fuel capacity by helping agriculture producers construct or expand transportation biofuel production facilities. The federal government has committed to ensuring all gasoline contain an average of five per cent renewable fuel content by 2010 and diesel and heating oil contain an average of two per cent by 2012. "The ecoAgriculture Biofuels Capital initiative is a significant boost for farmer participation in biofuels production," said Strahl. "This is the first program to give farmers capital assistance to construct or expand biofuels facilities. With this initiative, we expect a potential increase in renewable fuel capacity of 1 billion litres." Strahl said investing in science and innovation will be key to expanding the biofuel industry. "We want this business to thrive," he said. "We want to do what we can to ensure this opportunity does not pass us by." -- Darryl McMahon It's your planet. If you won't look after it, who will? The Emperor's New Hydrogen Economy (now in print and eBook) http://www.econogics.com/TENHE/ _______________________________________________ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
