Suncor Energy opened Canada’s largest ethanol-production plant. Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty and Patricia Davidson, Member of Parliament for Sarnia-Lambton joined Suncor Energy’s Executive Vice President, Tom Ryley, and other guests to celebrate the official opening of the plant located in St. Clair Township, near Sarnia.

The $120 million facility is expected to annually produce 200 million litres of ethanol. Feedstock for the ethanol will come from 20 million bushels of corn per year, sourced primarily from Ontario farmers. The facility generated employment for 38 people. The plant was partially funded with $22 million from the Government of Canada’s Ethanol Expansion Program and was also supported through an Ethanol Manufacturers’ Agreement with the Province of Ontario.

From 2005 to 2007, Suncor expects to invest more than $1.4 billion in Ontario, demonstrating its commitment to developing economic growth and environmental benefits in the province. This investment includes spending to improve the environmental performance of the company’s Sarnia refinery, construct and commission the ethanol facility, and build a proposed 76 megawatt wind power project near Ripley, Ontario.