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GreenField Ethanol applauds passage of federal biofuels bill

TORONTO

GreenField Ethanol, Canada's largest ethanol producer, applauded the passage of biofuels Bill C-33 today in the House of Commons – the next step toward a federal Renewable Fuel Standard for transportation fuels. This new standard mandates that all gasoline in Canada be blended with five per cent ethanol by 2010.

“With the National Energy Board predicting today that oil will stay around the $130 mark all summer due to strong demand and tight supply, Canadians need choice now more than ever,” said Bob Gallant, President and CEO of GreenField Ethanol. “The House of Commons has shown leadership and vision in voting in a biofuels mandate that will help mitigate prices at the pump while also reducing harmful greenhouse gases and air pollution.”

GreenField’s ethanol plants in Chatham and Tiverton, Ontario and in Varennes, Quebec produce a total of 370 million litres of ethanol per year. The company is in the final stages of construction of a 200 million litre plant in Johnstown, Ontario that will create 50 permanent jobs and more than 200 construction jobs in Eastern Ontario, while providing farmers with a new market for 20 million bushels per year of their surplus corn. Once passed by the Senate, Bill C-33 would assure this market for ethanol in the future.

"Right now, as a result of grain ethanol, we have a market in Canada, we have infrastructure, we have customers using our product, we have companies like GreenField that have earnings and investments and are pouring millions into research and development for next generation cellulosic ethanol," said Gallant. “The passage of Bill C-33 will help companies like ours provide Canadians with a much-needed alternative to expensive, polluting, ozone-depleting non-renewable oil.”