Canada's New Government Fuels Renewable Energy Production in Southern Alberta

"Canada's New Government has recently launched a number of initiatives to support and stimulate alternative energy development in Canada and improve profitability for farmers," said Rick Casson. "Projects such as the one being announced today will help increase our future use of biofuels, which is good for the environment and the agriculture sector in Alberta."

Through the Biofuels Opportunities for Producers Initiative (BOPI), an initiative administered under Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Advancing Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food (ACAAF) program, Southern Alberta Alternative Energy Partnership is receiving funding to help prepare a biofuels feasibility study and to perform public consultations to create and expand biofuels production capacity in Alberta.

BOPI is a $20 million commitment by Canada's New Government that is designed to provide farmers and rural communities with opportunities to participate in, and benefit from, increased Canadian biofuels 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 regional industry councils that administer Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's ACAAF Program. In Alberta, the funding for these projects is administered by the Agriculture and Food Council.

"The Agriculture and Food Council is pleased to be able to provide Albertans with funding to explore opportunities in biofuel production," said Paul Thiel, Chair of the Alberta ACAAF Program. "Each project demonstrates Alberta's commitment to our agricultural producers and the environment."

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.

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