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Greentech Lead Team: The Government of Quebec plans to invest $27 million
in Quebec’s first full-scale commercial cellulosic ethanol plant through the
Ministry of Natural Resources and Wildlife and Investissement Quebec.
Enerkem,
a waste-to-biofuels and chemicals company, and GreenField Ethanol,
the Canadian leader in alcohol production, have formed a joint venture
partnership to build and operate this facility.
The
$27 million contribution from the Government of Quebec includes $18 million in
financial assistance from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Wildlife and a
$9 million loan from Investissement Quebec.
The
plant will be located in Varennes, Quebec and will use Enerkem’s
technology to convert non-recyclable municipal solid waste into
biofuels. The Varennes facility represents Enerkem’s third full-scale
commercial project.
“By
producing liquid transportation fuel from non-recyclable waste, this facility
opens the door to the emergence of a new energy sector and will allow for local
sustainable management of our waste materials,” said Vincent Chornet,
president and CEO, Enerkem.
This
waste-to-biofuels production facility will help reduce greenhouse emissions,
fossil fuel imports and landfilled volumes. The non-recyclable waste will come
from institutional, commercial and industrial sectors, and from construction
and demolition debris. The plant will produce approximately 38 million
litres annually.
Quebec
has resolved to reduce, by 2020, its greenhouse gas emissions to 20 percent below
1990 levels, as part of its 2006-2012 Climate Change Action Plan. The
construction of the cellulosic ethanol facility is one step closer towards
reducing Quebec’s greenhouse gas emissions.
“In
addition to presenting a solution to landfilling, today’s announcement will
enable greenhouse gas emission reductions by about 110,000 metric tons of CO2
per year. Cellulosic ethanol is a renewable fuel that will contribute to
reducing our dependence on petroleum products. By supporting this project, our
government is concretely reinforcing energy security for Quebec,” said Clement
Gignac, Minister.