Canadian Renewable Fuel Standard receives provincial approval
July 1, 2006
In May, the Canadian provinces agreed to support the Conservative federal government's proposed renewable fuel standard of 5 percent renewable fuel in both gasoline and diesel by 2010. The biofuel strategy was announced in the election campaign of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and his administration has worked with the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association (CRFA) to draft a proposal.
Since provincial endorsement, the federal government has been working with key industry groups to develop the details of the strategy. The completed document will be available for Parliament by July 24, according to CRFA Chairman Tim Haig. "We're feeling very positive that in this calendar year we'll have something in place," he said.
Although Minister of the Environment Rona Ambrose called the biofuel strategy and its timeframe ambitious, some are calling for even more. For example, the Canola Council of Canada is advocating a 2 percent biodiesel inclusion mandate within the renewable fuel standard. In a recent publication, the council detailed this and other suggested policy changes to support the biodiesel industry and prevent ethanol from edging out biodiesel.
Meanwhile, Saskatchewan is lobbying for a 10 percent standard. "In Canada, we can easily meet our domestic needs without much effort," said Clay Serby, deputy premier of Saskatchewan. "Whether it's through oilseeds or biomass or potatoes, we think Canada could easily meet production needs of 6 billion liters by 2008 or 2009." He told Biodiesel Magazine that the feedstock necessary to meet the 5 percent mandate is just one-third of Saskatchewan's annual production of grains and oilseeds.
As it stands, the proposal has endorsement from the three major political parties, as well as the Canadian Petroleum Producers Institute (CPPI). "This is a big step," Haig said.
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