British Columbia Should Remove Roadblocks to Renewable-Fuels Sector

by Brian Robers, Adam Kreek and Chris McDowel (Vancouver Sun) Environmentally friendly proucts taxed as if they were derived from the fossil fuels they aim to replace

...The growing sector includes a number of green co-operatives and startups dedicated to supplying renewable biofuels like B100 (100-per-cent biodiesel), which packs the greatest pollution-fighting punch of any liquid vehicle fuel available.

In doing so, these innovators are helping our province meet its carbon-reduction goals, and fulfilling the B.C. Energy Plan’s objective to “reduce emissions and advance the domestic renewable fuel industry.”

At least, they’re trying. Unfortunately, due to what appears to be a series of legislative oversights, the same government that calls biofuels a key solution is taxing them as if they were part of the problem.

...These flaws — in what would otherwise be supportive legislation — are inadvertently undercutting B.C.’s biofuels industry. It is pricing domestic producers out of their own market and driving B.C.-made renewable fuels south of the border.

...Ironically, almost every drop of British Columbia’s renewable fuel production is now being sold to the U.S., forcing the province to import the biofuels it needs to meet its own carbon-reduction goals. READ MORE