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Biofuels association renamed RICanada

A Canadian biofuels organization has re-launched under the name Renewable Industries Canada (RICanada). The change – from the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association – reinforces the 32 year-old association’s mission to promote the use of value-added products made from renewable resources.

In making the announcement, RICanada president Andrea Kent emphasized the evolution of the renewable fuels industry and the diversity of companies that operate within Canada’s bioeconomy.

“Our industry and membership have been hard at work growing their businesses and diversifying their products beyond liquid transportation fuels for some time,” Kent said. “The new design of the association better reflects the impact our member companies have on the Canadian energy landscape, as well as their role in building Canada’s bio-based economy and meeting GHG emission reduction targets.”

RICanada represents the interests of over 30 member companies, and promotes the role of renewable fuels and value added products in reducing GHG emissions. According to RICanada, Canadian biofuels producers have helped Canada reduce carbon emissions by 4.2 megatonnes every year – the equivalent of removing one million cars from our roads.

“Renewable Industries Canada is proposing an ambitious, yet realistic strategy to reduce GHG emissions by another four megatonnes,” said Jim Grey, chair of RICanada. “The proposal would see the mandated amount of ethanol blended into Canadian gasoline increased to 10 per cent and the biodiesel content of diesel fuel increased from two per cent to five per cent. If enacted, it would remove an additional one million cars from the road, bringing the total amount of GHG emission reductions to almost nine megatonnes.”