The Atlantic provinces have agreed to set a single standard to encourage the use of biofuels in the region.

P.E.I. Development Minister Richard Brown says biofuels need to be adopted in a way that is good for farmers, the environment and the consumer.
(CBC)

Central and Western Canada have already set standards for biofuels, with some provinces requiring a vehicle fuel blend containing a certain amount of biofuel, while in others biofuel is exempt from provincial taxes.

There are no such requirements yet in Atlantic Canada, but P.E.I. Development Minister Richard Brown told CBC News Wednesday that governments have agreed to set a single standard, and he has laid down some basic principals.

"It has to be good for the farmers, it has to be good for the environment and it has to be good for the consumers of Prince Edward Island," said Brown.

'[Biofuels] increase the amount of nitrous compounds … they increase the cost of food; they increase environmental destruction.'— P.E.I. Green party Leader Sharon Labchuk

The first question will be what biofuel makes the most sense for the region: biodiesel made from canola or another oilseed, or ethanol made from corn or another type of crop. Brown said he personally favours biodiesel, but there will be much more evaluation and public discussion on the issue before any standard is set.

Biofuels harmful, say Greens

P.E.I.'s Green party is entirely opposed to biofuels, saying that the net energy gain from growing crops for fuel is slim and overall it causes harm to the environment.

"They increase the amount of carbon released into the atmosphere; they increase the amount of nitrous compounds, which are greenhouse gases; they increase the cost of food; they increase environmental destruction in terms of degrading the soil, mining the soil," said party leader Sharon Labchuk.

Labchuk is worried the province is keen on biofuels because there's so much federal money available to develop them right now, but said that cash in hand might cost the province more down the road.