The government of Prince Edward Island has established an Interdepartmental Committee to consider proposals for generating energy from plants and other agricultural sources.
Under the leadership of the Department of Agriculture, the Interdepartmental Biofuels Committee will review proposed bio-energy projects from the standpoint of social impact, environmental sustainability, business viability and ability to provide agriculture business opportunities.
The IDBC will not fund business proposals or pilot projects, but will maintain a small budget in order to hire expert advice for some proposals. Proponents of a business plan or pilot projects will be expected to find financial support from other government or private sources.
The committee includes representatives of the Departments of Agriculture, Innovation and Advanced Learning, Fisheries, Transportation and Public Works, Provincial Treasury and Environment, Energy and Forestry. The establishment of such a committee was recommended by the Environmental and Renewable Industries Committee in order to create a working group capable of reviewing bio-energy projects.
“The field of biofuels is something that many farmers and business people are interested in. It’s an area that could create opportunity for business and farmers and one that holds the promise of delivering an Island-based fuel source. But it’s a field that is still developing. By creating the Interdepartmental Biofuels Committee, government now has a group that can consider these bio-energy proposals from several standpoints,” said Neil LeClair, Minister of Agriculture.
“Proponents who want to approach government about a bio-fuel project should benefit from having a single body in place to accept and review proposals.”
BACKGROUNDER
ABOUT THE INTERDEPARTMENTAL BIOFUELS COMMITTEE
The Interdepartmental Biofuels Committee is a body set up by the government of Prince Edward Island in order to evaluate specific bioenergy projects and proposals and to advise government more generally on the role that energy from biological sources can play in the province’s future.
The IDBC has been set up as government’s cross-departmental evaluator of bio-energy proposals, and any such proposals that may come to government attention from other points of entry (i.e. though agriculture, energy or economic development services) are to be referred to IBDC for assessment.
As part of its work, the IDBC will consider the suitability of pilot projects that would see technologies that employ biologically-derived energy sources used on a trial basis by government itself.
The IDBC was formed in early 2008, following release of the Environmental and Renewable Industries Committee Final Report; creation of the IDBC was one of the ERIC committee’s recommendations.
The IDBC includes representatives from several government departments including Agriculture, Innovation and Advanced Learning, Fisheries, Transportation and Public Works, Provincial Treasury and Environment, Energy and Forestry. The IDBC maintains links to energy experts in the private sector, government and academia.
Projects are considered in the light of a number of criteria including their technical feasibility, their environmental impact, their viability as businesses and their social benefits.
IDBC does not fund projects. Proponents must seek their own financial support from government or private sources.
With respect to the evaluation of proposals for biofuels projects or biofuel demonstration projects, be advised that the Committee will review each proposal using the following assessment headings:
A. Agricultural Sector Development
B. Forestry Sector Development
C. Development Benefits and Risk
D. Technical Feasibility and Risk
E. Financial Feasibility and Risk
F. Environmental Benefits
G. Climate Change Impact
H. Barriers to Progress