OMAHA (DTN) -- Enerkem Inc. broke ground on a new waste-to-biofuels plant in Edmonton, Alberta, Tuesday, according to a news release from the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association.

At a ceremony attended by Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach and Edmonton Mayor Stephen Mandel, Quebec-based Enerkem broke ground on a 9.5-million-gallon municipal waste-to-biofuels plant.

"Today, Canada breaks new ground in the development of advanced biofuels," said Gordon Quaiattini, president of the CRFA. "This plant is a concrete example of Canadian leadership in renewable fuels. This plant is good news for our energy supply, good news for the local economy, and good news for the environment."

Using Enerkem's proprietary clean technology, the plant will produce enough biofuel to fuel more than 400,000 cars per year running on a 5-percent ethanol blend, the release said.

It will be built, owned and operated by Enerkem Alberta Biofuels, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Enerkem. The city of Edmonton and Enerkem Alberta Biofuels have signed a 25-year agreement to convert 100,000 tons of municipal solid waste into biofuels per year.

The advanced biofuels facility will create more than 180 direct and indirect jobs during the operations, construction and engineering phases. It will contribute to the federal and provincial Renewable Fuel Standards, taking effect in 2010.

(AG)

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