FREDERICTON - Ottawa is doubling its funding to help farmers interested in biofuel production to develop business plans or pay for feasibility studies.
Agriculture Minister Chuck Strahl has announced another $10 million for the federal Biofuels Opportunities for Producers Initiative.
The government initially invested $10 million in the program, which was created last July.
Up to $3 million of the most recent investment will be used immediately to fund dozens of approved projects, while the rest will be allocated in the 2007-2008 fiscal year.
Strahl, who made the announcement Saturday, also says the initiative will help pay for a pilot program at a refining plant in Waterville, N.B.
Strahl says $294,500 will help Eastern Greenway Oils Inc. complete testing needed to produce biodiesel, fuel conditioners and lubricants from canola, mustard and soybeans.
"It's a pretty exciting prospect if they can make this all work," Strahl said in an interview.
"This is to help them do some further investigative work to see if that's
possible. . . . We're hoping to get these kind of projects, both large and
small, right across the country."
