EDMONTON, ALBERTA--(Marketwired - Jun 4, 2014) - The Canadian Renewable Fuels Association (CRFA) today saluted Enerkem (www.enerkem.com) on its official inauguration of its first full-scale municipal waste-to-biofuels and chemicals facility in Edmonton, Alberta.

"By using municipal solid waste to produce clean-burning biofuels, Enerkem has taken a garbage problem and turned it into a renewable fuels solution in Alberta," said CRFA president W. Scott Thurlow. "Canada's biofuels industry is working to drive innovation, create high-value jobs and contribute to the long-term prosperity of our environment. Building one of the world's first advanced full-scale biorefinery facilities in Canada is a testament to that work and shows the value of growing our bioeconomy."

This facility, which is a partnership between Enerkem, the City of Edmonton, and Alberta Innovates - Energy and Environment Solutions, is the culmination of ten years of combined efforts. The pioneering facility will have a production capacity of up to 38 million litres per year and will help the City of Edmonton increase its residential waste diversion rate to 90%. The construction of this facility created more than 600 direct and indirect jobs and, going forward, it is expected to generate net economic spending in the local area of nearly $65 million annually.

"Renewable fuels play an important role in diversifying our energy mix and protecting our environment," continued Mr. Thurlow. "The completion of this facility is a significant development in converting waste to renewable fuel and is a model example for other communities across Canada and the world."

About the CRFA

Founded in 1984, the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association (CRFA) is a non-profit organization with a mission to promote the use of value added products made from renewable resources through consumer awareness and government liaison activities.