New cutting edge facility in southern Alberta to create jobs, cut emissions by creating biofuel from waste
The Alberta government is supporting Canary Biofuels, an Alberta-based biofuel producer, with a $4.7M grant through the province's Technology Innovation and Emissions Reductions (TIER) fund.
In total, the facility in Lethbridge County will cost $28.6M and will be capable of producing roughly 70 million litres of renewable fuel each year while cutting more than 220,000 tonnes of emissions.
That reduction in emissions is equivalent to the electricity needed to power 41,000 homes.
Environment and Parks Minister Jason Nixon said the decision to fund a portion of the facility was not only to help the economy, but also the environment.
"This facility will be the first of its kind in Canada, with its flagship facility right here in Alberta,"
"It will take local agriculture waste, edible animal fats and used cooking oil and turn these into renewable fuel."
The plant plans to purchase more than $375M worth of feedstock from Alberta farmers over the next five years.
For the province's canola producers, having another revenue option is a big deal after years of unstable trade agreements and uncertain crop yields.
"You go back a number of years and we didn't have an option for off-grade canola," said the Chair of the Canadian Canola Growers Association Mike Ammeter.
Canola, July 27, 2021
"If it was a real bad year, you might end up having to landfill all of it. Those days are gone, and this [facility] plays right into that."
With facilities like Canary Biofuels' Lethbridge county plant, farmers have more versatility and more options to diversify their customer base.
The plant is expected to be operational in October of this year after upgrades.
"We're adding a chemical train, a distillation column and some unique technology in the middle that helps allow us to have really high-efficiency in terms of taking all that feedstock and converting into biodiesel and glycerin," said Canary Biofuels CEO George Wadsworth.
"Canadian canola is used in biofuel production around the world because it’s a low-carbon, sustainable and renewable resource. We are excited to see more investment in Lethbridge that will directly benefit canola farmers," said Canola Council of Canada director Brad Orr.
For canola farmers, this isn't the first time biofuel has come up as a way to increase profits and support the economy.
The Canola Council of Canada tried to push the province to mandate the use of more biodiesel in the fuel consumers buy at the pumps roughly two years ago.
RENEWABLE FUELS
The provincial Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) currently requires Alberta fuel suppliers to reach a minimum annual average of five per cent renewable alcohol mixed in with regular gasoline.
However, only two per cent of biodiesel needs to be in diesel fuel.
For canola producers who have felt a real financial sting over the past few years, bringing that total up to five per cent biodiesel would dramatically increase the demand for their oilseed crops and in turn create a massive boost to business.
"If we went to five per cent across Canada, the estimates are that it would be similar to a market size of Japan. So that is a huge market," said Ammeter.
"The question is where would all the supply come from? Well, we'd have to work on that and it would be all hands on deck, but it's a great position to be in when you have demand."
Minister Nixon confirmed that raising that minimum biodiesel level remains on the table and he plans on continuing discussions with the province's minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Devin Dreeshen.
"A lot of the questions that we have to answer from a public policy perspective on that had to wait until the federal government laid out their climate change plans. As we're seeing those unfold, we can have another look at that," said Nixon.
"We are going to continue in the province of Alberta to be focused on helping to develop new technology and focused on supporting out innovators on projects like this to find ways forward to manage emissions."
The recent funding for the Canary Biofuels plant is part of the province's commitment of up to $750M for emissions reduction and economic diversification programs and projects through the TIER fund.
The goal of that funding is to create roughly 9,000 jobs while injecting nearly $2B into the Alberta economy.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
Suter scores late goal, clinches series for Canucks
Pius Suter scored with 1:39 left and the Vancouver Canucks advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs with a 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night in Game 6.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.
Human remains found in rural Sask. possibly a decade old, RCMP say
RCMP say human remains found in a rural area in central Saskatchewan may have been there for a decade or more.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.