OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA — The Government of Canada announced on Sept. 1 that regulations requiring an average renewable fuel content of 5% in gasoline have been finalized and will come into effect starting Dec. 15.

"Today we are fulfilling the government's commitment to require 5% renewable fuel content in gasoline," said the Honorable Jim Prentice, Minister of the Environment. "Regulating renewable fuel content in gasoline is just one of several steps the Government is taking to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector, which account for about a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions."

"Support for renewable fuels is support for farmers, rural communities and our economy," said Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. "This is a vital step in generating new market opportunities for our farmers and maximizing Canada's high quality resources to produce food and fuel for the world."

"These regulations will help Canada reach our goal of becoming a clean energy leader," said Christian Paradis, Minister of Natural Resources. "Our government supports biofuels and other alternative fuels as part of our commitment to reducing Canada's total greenhouse gas emissions by 17%, from 2005 levels, by 2020."

The government said these regulations are one pillars of its broader renewable fuels strategy. Canada will implement a requirement for 2% renewable content in diesel fuel and heating oil, subject to successful demonstration of technical feasibility under the range of Canadian conditions, which would be put in place by an amendment to the renewable fuels regulations.

When fully implemented, the strategy's two regulatory requirements combined with provincial regulations will ensure a total volume of renewable fuel that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to four megatonnes in 2012 — about the equivalent of taking one million vehicles off the road.

These regulations are a key initiative in support of the government’s commitment to reduce Canada's total greenhouse gas emissions by 17% from 2005 levels by 2020. In addition, the government of Canada is working with the U.S. towards common North American standards for regulating greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles, and has recently published, draft regulations for vehicle tailpipe emissions under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act that are aligned with those of the U.S.