Conference board report shows the benefits of Canada’s ethanol industry
GUELPH, ON (November 7, 2011) – A study on the economic impact of the ethanol industry in Canada and its environmental and health effects from the Conference Board of Canada mirrors Grain Farmers of Ontario’s recent findings: the ethanol industry benefits our economy and our environment.
“Good policy is based on accurate information and careful assessment of the alternatives. The purpose of this report is to assess the evidence and to contribute to policy discussions around ethanol,” said Len Coad, Director, Environment, Energy and Transportation in a release. “Our study concludes that ethanol should be part of Canada's energy mix. It is a clean transportation fuel that has a positive energy balance, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and contributes to energy self-sufficiency.”
According to the study, ethanol production in Canada has reached almost two billion litres per year and it can contribute to reducing Canada’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. A 10 percent ethanol blend in our fuel reduces GHG emissions by four to six percent compared to gasoline. The Conference Board also looked at the economic impact of the ethanol industry and found that it contributes as much as $1.2 billion annually to the Canadian economy and accounts for more than 14,000 person-years of employment during construction and over 1,000 permanent jobs once plants are in operation.
“These findings substantiate our previous findings through our own independent research,” says Barry Senft, CEO of Grain Farmers of Ontario. “It’s very clear that the ethanol and biofuels industry is important to Canadian farmers and non-farmers alike on a myriad of levels including benefits to the environment and the economy.”
The report, Ethanol's Potential Contribution to Canada's Transportation Sector (http://www.conferenceboard.ca/documents.aspx?did=4511), is publicly available from the Conference Board's e-library (www.e-library.ca).
Grain Farmers of Ontario
Grain Farmers of Ontario is the province’s largest commodity organization, representing Ontario’s 28,000 corn, soybean and wheat farmers. The crops they grow cover 6 million acres of farm land across the province, generate over $2.5 billion in farm gate receipts, result in over $9 billion in economic output and are responsible for over 40,000 jobs in the province.
