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Alberta’s Bioenergy Producer Program to support 31 companies, 500 jobs

February 12, 2017 | By Renée Francoeur


Alberta Environment Minister Shannon Phillips and Stefan Michalski tour the Lethbridge Biogas facility. Photo courtesy: Alberta Government

February 12, 2017 – The Alberta government is giving 31 bioenergy companies short-term funding through the $60-million Bioenergy Producer Program, which it says will support 500 direct jobs.

The province says the money will keep operations going while a third-party adviser and other stakeholders advise government on new policy options to support the industry and build on a program begun in 2006. A report is expected by the end of March.

Of the facilities getting money, three are under construction, “meaning new jobs and over $200 million in new investment to the province”, Alberta states.

The grant recipients all produce biofuels, electricity, heat or wood pellets and the grants are production-based—money is provided based on how much bioenergy each company generates. All types of bioenergy are funded at the same rate.

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Alberta’s bioenergy industry powers the equivalent of 200,000 homes using wood pellets, biogas and liquid biofuels, according to the province, and the industry contributes about $800 million to Alberta’s economy.


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