Canada’s Renewable Fuels Association Welcomes Greener Diesel Requirement in Ontario

OTTAWA, Ontario – The Canadian Renewable Fuels Association (CRFA) applauded the Ontario provincial government's introduction of a Greener Diesel mandate in the Province of Ontario.

The Greener Diesel mandate for all diesel sold in Ontario will reduce harmful greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and encourage biodiesel production in the province. It will also reduce smog forming particulates to improve the air quality of the province’s urban centres while creating economic opportunity for renewable fuel producers and farmers alike.

“This is fantastic news for our renewable fuels industry as well as Ontario,” said CRFA President W. Scott Thurlow. “Ontario has created the gold standard for biofuels regulations. By focusing on reducing emissions, this regulation will provide several options for compliance for the obligated parties. Ontario’s Greener Diesel requirement is a model for other jurisdictions the world over.”

Ontario’s proposal links the emissions profile of the feedstock and the processes which create the fuel - and is designed to maximize environmental benefit here in the province. The Greener Diesel mandate emulates the inclusion requirements found in other provinces, but ensures an environmental benefit by rewarding the fuels which reduce emissions by the greatest margin.

Renewable fuels can reduce GHGs by as much as 99 percent when compared to petroleum based diesel. The 2 percent inclusion requirement in Ontario will be the equivalent of removing the emissions from 140,000 cars off of our roads. The 4 percent mandate will double that!

The inclusion requirement will also serve as an effective business risk management tool for farmers. The first phase of the proposed requirement will require as much as 160 million litres of renewable content – creating a potential market for over 680,000 tonnes of soybeans. As the Greener Diesel requirement increases to 4 percent in the future, the potential markets for Ontario production will also grow.

Renewable diesel is a clean-burning renewable fuel that can be used in all diesel vehicles with minimal or no engine modifications. Renewable diesel cuts emissions from our diesel cars, trucks, stationary power sources, boats, and trains.

“More than any other policy tool, inclusion requirements for biofuels use is proven to contribute directly to our economy, our environment, and the strength of our agricultural sector,” continued Thurlow. “Ontario’s Greener Diesel requirement is exceptional news for the province’s renewable fuels industry and the farmers they work so closely with.”

Source: CRFA