Minister of Environment, Energy and Forestry Jamie Ballem met today with federal, provincial and territorial ministers responsible for biofuels to discuss a national renewable fuels strategy.
The meeting, held in Regina, Saskatchewan, was co-chaired by federal Environment Minister Rona Ambrose and Saskatchewan Minister of Environment John Nilson. Other federal ministers participating were Minister of Natural Resources Gary Lunn and Chuck Strahl, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board.
Minister Ballem said the meeting was very productive with federal and provincial ministers supporting a renewable fuels standard of at least five per cent by 2010. This means that gasoline and other liquid fuels would contain five per cent renewable fuels such as ethanol or biodiesel by 2010. While both PEI and Saskatchewan supported a renewable fuels standard of 10 per cent, Minister Ballem said a standard of at least five per cent is a good starting point.
“This is a significant step both for our environment and for the agriculture industry,” said Minister Ballem. “Increasing the renewable content of fuels clearly has environmental benefits because it will reduce greenhouse emissions which contribute to climate change. However, just as important are the opportunities this presents for farmers to grow energy crops such as canola. For a renewable fuels standard to truly be successful, that has to be part of the strategy.”
Minister Ballem told his counterparts at the meeting of Prince Edward Island’s experience in setting a renewable portfolio standard for electricity. The standard of 15 per cent by 2010 has sparked wind energy development in the province and PEI is expected to reach the target by 2007.
“Developing renewable fuels is another key part of our Renewable Energy Strategy and I believe the progress made today in setting a renewable fuels standard will help us move forward on that front,” said Minister Ballem. “By developing renewable fuels, we can continue to reduce our reliance on imported energy sources and maximize economic benefits for Prince Edward Island by creating new opportunities for the farming community.”
Federal and provincial ministers will be meeting in the months ahead to move forward on the renewable fuels standard.