MONTREAL, QC — Enerkem, a leading waste-to-biofuels and green chemicals technology company, yesterday participated in the announcement of a community energy initiative that will heat a Strathcona County neighbourhood, using the residual heat and synthetic gas from its process employed at its Edmonton waste-to-biofuels plant.

The project received grant funding in the form of $7.45 million from the Government of Alberta as part of the ecoTrust program. The announcement was made by Alberta Environment Minister Rob Renner, City of Edmonton Mayor Stephen Mandel, and Strathcona County Mayor Cathy Olesen.

Enerkem's biofuels plant, operated under the name of Enerkem GreenField Alberta Biofuels, will provide the residual heat and synthetic gas from its process as heating and cooling energy for residents and institutions in the Emerald Hills area. Strathcona County will use this innovative alternative to natural gas in a heating loop in Sherwood Park. This renewable energy project will directly reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by about 7,000 tonnes per year when operational in 2012.

"Enerkem is proud to play a role in such a unique alternative energy project that could become a model for other communities", said Vincent Chornet, President and Chief Executive Officer of Enerkem. "This project demonstrates our commitment to reducing GHG emissions and to providing communities and cities with innovative solutions to transform their household waste, which cannot be recycled or composted, into biofuels and green energy."

The grant funding received for this community energy project comes from the Clean Air and Climate Change-Technology and Innovation Program, under the Government of Alberta's share of the Canada ecoTrust. This project was selected because of its great potential in reducing greenhouse gas emissions for the Edmonton Region, by providing a clean alternative source of energy.

Visit the Enerkem website for more information.

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