Print this page

GreenField Ethanol opens first ethanol plant in Quebec

VARENNES, Quebec

GreenField Ethanol, Canada's leading ethanol producer, today announced that its third plant, and the only ethanol plant in Quebec, is now in full operation in Varennes, Quebec.

Minister of Finance Jim Flaherty and Secretary of State (Agriculture) Christian Paradis toured the plant today with GreenField Ethanol's President and CEO Robert Gallant.

GreenField's Varennes plant will produce 120 million litres of ethanol each year from 12 million bushels of Quebec-grown corn. The Varennes plant is GreenField's third plant in operation in Canada. Two others are located in Chatham and Tiverton, Ontario, and two more are under construction in Johnstown and Hensall, Ontario, and scheduled to be operating in 2008.

GreenField Ethanol will be one of the top producers in North America with five operating plants, producing more than 700-million litres of ethanol per year by 2008.

"We are extremely proud to be the pioneer of ethanol production in Quebec," said Gallant. "The recent federal government's budget commitment to provide $2 billion to renewable fuels is a tremendous boost to the industry, both in Quebec and across the country."

The ethanol produced at GreenField's Varennes plant will be available at Petro-Canada stations across the province. "Our ethanol will provide consumers with a fuel that is cleaner and more beneficial to the environment," said Gallant.

Bernard Marin, Vice-President of Pro-Éthanol, was also on hand to welcome the Minister of Finance. Pro-Ethanol represents 500 corn farmers from Quebec's five main corn-growing regions.

"Through Pro-Ethanol, hundreds of Quebec farmers have invested in GreenField Ethanol's Varennes plant, " said Marin. "We are excited that this ethanol plant will provide a new market for 12 million bushels of Quebec corn."

The federal government contributed $18 million towards the construction of the Varennes facility under the Ethanol Expansion Program.

Photo: Finance Minister Jim Flaherty is applauded by workers at GreenField Ethanol's new Varennes plant during a visit to the Quebec facility.

Photo: Secretary of State (Agriculture) Christian Paradis, GreenField Ethanol President and CEO Robert Gallant and Finance Minister Jim Flaherty unload corn that will be made into ethanol at GreenField's new Varennes, Quebec plant.

Photo: GreenField President and CEO Robert Gallant examines a new delivery of corn outside GreenField's new Varennes, Quebec plant.

Photo: GreenField Ethanol President and CEO Robert Gallant and Finance Minister Jim Flaherty pull the lever on a truckload of corn that will be made into ethanol at GreenField's new Varennes, Quebec plant.

Research and Innovation

For 20 years, GreenField has used new technology to increase ethanol yields and energy efficiency.

Commentary

For the first time since 9/11, a new issue has tied health care as the number one concern of Canadians, as revealed by a Gandalf group poll in July.

Cellulosic Ethanol

Canada’s ethanol pioneer: working to produce cellulosic ethanol from waste on a commercial scale.

Buy and Sell Grains

For over 20 years, GreenField has been buying corn from local producers and returning a third of it to farmers as distillers’ grains, a valued form of livestock feed.

Quick Facts

The Canadian government estimates: "If 35 percent of gasoline in Canada contained ten percent ethanol, greenhouse gas emissions would be reduced by 1.8 megatonnes per year (1.8 million tonnes), which is the equivalent of removing more than 400,000 vehicles from the road."