GreenField Ethanol Johnstown Plant to Receive New Funding from the Canadian Government

GreenField Ethanol’s Johnstown plant was pleased to host Gord Brown, Member of Parliament for Leeds-Grenville, on behalf of the Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Natural Resources and the Honourable Gerry Ritz, Minister of Agriculture, where it was announced today that the Johnstown facility will receive investments of up to $117.5 million over seven years from the Government of Canada in support of biofuels development. Mr. Brown was joined by Robert Gallant, president and CEO, GreenField Ethanol.

“These investments, from both the ecoEnergy for Biofuels and the ecoABC programs, will help GreenField Ethanol in our committed vision to help broaden Canadian’s fuel choices through the use of innovative technologies and disciplined leadership,” said Bob Gallant. “Not only will they strengthen the Johnstown community by supporting our plant facility, by saving jobs and by creating economic growth, they will also ensure an ongoing market for local area farmers.”

GreenField Ethanol’s Johnstown facility will be receiving up to $110.2 million over seven years through Natural Resources Canada’s ecoEnergy for Biofuels program. This program provides an operating incentive – based on production levels – to Canadian producers of renewable alternatives to gasoline and diesel.

GreenField will also be receiving $7.3 million in repayable funding through Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s ecoAgriculture Biofuels Capital (ecoABC), a $200-million initiative to increase Canadian renewable fuels production capacity and help farmers participate in this emerging market opportunity. Local farmers are investing a total of $8 million in this project, which will provide them with a new source of revenue and also broaden the economic base of the community.

“Our Government is delivering results for families, farmers and businesses in Johnstown,” said Mr. Brown. “This funding will build market demand for agricultural products and create economic opportunities in our community while contributing to a healthier environment for all Canadians.” Compared to gasoline, grain-based ethanol can reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by up to 40 per cent on a lifecycle basis. For biodiesel, the emissions reduction can be as much as 60 per cent.

GreenField Ethanol Inc.  produces 550 million litres a year of ethanol at its plants in Johnstown, Chatham and Tiverton, Ontario as well as Varennes, Quebec. GreenField’s ethanol is available at more than 1,300 gas stations across Canada.