By Terry Boland, Editor-in-Chief

The initiative includes Quebec farmers, the Province of Quebec through Société Générale de Financement du Québec (SGF), Petro Canada and CAI. SGF will help to fund the project by providing $25 million in financing.

The plant will eventually employ over 60 full-time employees and is expected to be completed in 20 months. When fully operational, the plant will produce 120 million litres of ethanol per day to be blended with gasoline throughout Quebec at Petro Canada stations.

“This is a very big step in the development of the renewable fuels industry in Canada,” said Bliss Baker, President of the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association, representing the renewable fuels industry in Canada. “This is a positive investment for the Province of Quebec, local farmers, the economy and, of course, the environment.

Farmers are expected to benefit significantly from the development of the plant that will use up to 12 million bushels of Quebec corn every year. As a net exporter of corn, the region now has a new market for locally grown corn in its own backyard. Local farmers have invested in the project and will play a key role in the success of the plant.

Engineering plans are now being finalized and construction is expected to begin this winter. The plant will invest heavily in technology and will be one of the most modern ethanol plants in the world when completed.

USDA Announces Fuel Program
USDA Secretary Dan Glickman announced details of a new $300 million program to encourage expanded production of environmentally-friendly fuels made from corn, soybeans and other crops. The program, which was initially proposed in President Clinton’s 2001 budget as part of the farm safety net, will help expand markets for ag commodities and promote the use of ethanol and soy-based biodiesel.