Manitoba trucks may soon be burning more biodiesel.
Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister has promised to increase the renewable content in diesel fuel to five percent if the Progressive Conservatives are re-elected Sept. 10.
Right now, diesel fuel in Manitoba must contain two percent biodiesel.
Canola industry associations praised Pallister for the biodiesel commitment, saying canola growers, Manitoba’s economy and the environment will all benefit.
“Enhancing biofuel use is a win-win-win for Manitoba. It reduces greenhouse gas emissions, promotes value added processing of canola and creates a larger domestic market for canola that is free from international trade actions,” says Jim Everson, president of the Canola Council of Canada (CCC). “This announcement is welcome and timely given the current market access challenges facing our industry.”
The Manitoba Canola Grower Association and the Canadian Canola Growers Association said canola represents about 40 percent of the feedstock used to make biofuel in Canada.
If all provinces increased the biodiesel percentage in diesel to five percent, it would boost national demand for canola seed, they said.
