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Harper announces renewable fuel regulations

Feb. 11. 2011, Hamilton, Ont. – The Harper Government today announced that it is moving forward with the requirement for an average 2 per cent renewable content in diesel fuel and heating oil.

“When we announced our Renewable Fuels Strategy, we were clear that the 2 per cent requirement would be implemented subject to technical feasibility,” said the Honourable Peter Kent, Minister of the Environment. “After positive results, we are moving forward with this requirement which will result in further reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and ultimately in cleaner air for all Canadians.”

“We are meeting the commitments we have made to farmers, rural communities and industry to regulate the use of renewable fuels,” said Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. “The new renewable fuel content in biodiesel and heating oil will give our farmers another market for their crops and demonstrates how agriculture can contribute to reducing Canada’s environmental footprint.”

Our Government’s Renewable Fuels Regulations were published on September 1, 2010. The regulations already require an average of 5 per cent renewable content in gasoline. The regulations also contained the provisions to require an average of 2 per cent renewable content in diesel fuel and heating oil.

When fully implemented, the Strategy’s two regulatory requirements combined with provincial regulations will ensure a total volume of renewable fuel that will reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions by up to four megatonnes—about the equivalent of taking one million vehicles off the road.

The proposed regulatory amendment will be published in the Canada Gazette, Part I in the coming weeks for a 60-day public comment period. The Government of Canada is proposing a coming into force date of July 1, 2011.

The Harper Government worked closely with industry partners to support several projects to demonstrate how renewable diesel fuel would perform under the range of Canadian conditions. The report concluded that an average of 2 per cent renewable content is technically feasible.

Reducing emissions in the transportation sector is a key component in the Government’s plan to achieve Canada’s target of reducing total greenhouse gas emissions by 17 per cent from 2005 levels by 2020. In addition to the Renewable Fuels Regulations, the Government has also finalized regulations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from passenger vehicles and is working to do the same for heavy-duty vehicles.