Powering up Canada’s energy advantage

July 18, 2011, Kananaskis, AB – The New
Economy Alliance is calling on federal, provincial, and territorial governments
to act now and develop a comprehensive energy strategy that builds on Canada's
global advantage in agricultural, oil and gas, mineral, and forest resources.
The Alliance is bringing together associations representing forestry,
chemicals, agriculture, renewable fuels, and biotechnology to promote
innovation in new technologies that would add value to Canada's vast natural
resources.

As its initial step, the group is
challenging energy ministers now meeting in Kananaskis, Alberta, to develop a
national energy vision that would include clean, renewable bioenergy from a
broad range of natural resources.

"Canada's forestry industry has
emerged as an environmental leader. Making full use of the biomass waste stream
from the forest industry could produce the equivalent energy output of nine
nuclear reactors," says Avrim Lazar, president and CEO of the Forest
Products Association of Canada.

The Alliance recognizes that governments in
Canada have taken initial steps to help industry contribute to the emerging new
economy. However, much more must be done to take advantage of the multi-billion
dollar opportunities in the bioeconomy and turn Canada into a world leader in
new value-added products.

"Canada is uniquely positioned with
sustainably harvested agricultural and forest resources to produce clean and
renewable biofuels," says Doug Hooper of the Canadian Renewable Fuels
Association. "Renewable fuels are recognized as the most effective and
immediate carbon action strategy to lower greenhouse gas emissions from the
transportation sector."

The New Economy Alliance will be working
with governments to advance the bioeconomy across the agriculture, forestry,
chemical, manufacturing, and energy sectors. Integrating new bio-processing
technologies within established industrial plants will deliver a vast array of
renewable, value-added alternatives such as solvents, plastics, paints,
adhesives, insulation, textiles, and consumer products.

Members of the New Economy Alliance include
BIOTECanada, Canadian Federation of Agriculture, Canadian Renewable Fuels
Association, Chemistry Industry Association of Canada, CropLife Canada, Forest
Products Association of Canada, and the Sustainable Chemistry Alliance.