Government's Clean Fuel Standard Regulatory Design Paper Welcomed by Renewable Industries Canada

Industry leaders say announcement brings Canada one step closer meeting its climate goals and will help establish a vibrant and accessible market for increased low carbon fuel use and production.

OTTAWA, Dec. 20, 2018 /CNW/ - Renewable Industries Canada (RICanada) today welcomed the release of the federal Clean Fuel Standard (CFS) Regulatory Design Paper, and the draft regulatory framework of the Output Based Pricing Standard (OBPS). These ambitious policies mark two essential steps necessary to achieving the Government of Canada's Paris Accord commitments on greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions.

With today's announcement, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) brings significant clarity to the future of the CFS. RICanada has long been a proponent of a strong emissions reduction target for liquid fuels. RICanada member companies applaud ECCC's leadership in setting the target for this stream at 23 megatonnes. This approach will drive significant GHG emission reductions in the transportation and oil and gas sectors, which together account for roughly half of Canadian GHG emissions. Biofuels are the most impactful contributor to reducing emissions under the CFS, due to their wide availability, low price point, and low carbon intensities; facts supported by independent analysis by third parties as well as Environment and Climate Change Canada.

Today's announcement brings Canada one step closer to having an vibrant and accessible credit market that rewards the increased use of low carbon fuels. We look forward to continuing to work with government and industry stakeholders as details on credit trading under the CFS develop so that our shared goal of a transparent market that incents investment in low carbon fuels is realized.

While recognizing that there are still a number of details that need to be finalized, RICanada is optimistic that a CFS incorporating a sensible lifecycle model will result in a policy that provides certainty and clarity for industry to deliver the targeted GHG reductions.

For its part, the OBPS framework will provide an important and complementary incentive for industry to reduce emission intensity while penalizing industries that pollute above industry baseline standards.

MEMBER COMPANY STATEMENTS

GREENFIELD GLOBAL INC.

"Greenfield is committed to helping Canada clean and diversify its energy and fuel mix. Today's announcement reinforces that biofuels and other low carbon fuel alternatives are vital to winning the fight against climate change, and creates the business conditions needed to transition fuelling our transportation system in the coming decades. It means higher ethanol blending as well as newer technologies like converting waste to fuels and biogas, which is significant for our communities, economy, and environment alike," said Howard Field, President and CEO of Greenfield Global Inc.

IGPC ETHANOL INC.

"The Clean Fuel Standard will be a driver of growth for made-in-Canada ethanol. At IGPC, we recently doubled the capacity of our Aylmer, Ontario production facility. With strong policies like the CFS, we are pleased that there will continue to be a robust market as Canada transitions towards low carbon fuels," said Kevin Norton, CEO-COO of IGPG Ethanol Inc.

WORLD ENERGY

"World Energy eagerly awaits the implementation of the Clean Fuel Standards. Similar policies in jurisdictions that are also committed to reducing carbon emissions from the transportation sector, such as California and British Columbia, have driven demand for biomass-based diesel with ultra-low carbon intensities. A Canadian CFS creates an incentive for companies like ours to increase production and invest in even cleaner technologies. We applaud the Government of Canada for its leadership," said Scott Lewis, Executive VP, World Energy.

ABOUT RICANADA

Founded in 1984, Renewable Industries Canada (RICanada) is a non-profit organization with a mission to promote the use of value-added products made from renewable resources. RICanada is the industry's leading voice in raising consumer awareness and in providing input to governments with respect to policies, legislation and regulations affecting the interests of our over 30 member companies.

SOURCE Renewable Industries Canada

Dan Pfeffer, Renewable Industries Canada, [email protected], T: 1-833-4-RN-FUEL, Twitter: @renewcan, www.ricanada.org