Calvert touts Canada-wide 'ethanol highway'

Saskatchewan Premier Lorne Calvert is calling for creation of an ethanol-friendly highway that stretches from coast-to-coast.

The plan would see high-grade ethanol-blended fuels made available along existing routes.

Automakers are already building vehicles that can burn an 85-per-cent ethanol blend, although filling stations that sell the fuel at that concentration are few and far between.

Calvert thinks an "E85" highway could help the environment and give a boost to the biofuels industry in Saskatchewan and other provinces.

"What we need to do is do some co-ordination, because we have major production happening in our province, we have major networks of delivery points, fuel stations and we have got a growing number of people who are looking to or today own E85 [compatible vehicles]," said Calvert, who presented the idea earlier this week at a meeting of provincial and territorial leaders in Toronto.

However, one industry expert is putting the brakes on, saying the industry may not have the fuel.

Brad Wildeman, the president of the Pound-Maker ethanol plant in Lanigan, southeast of Saskatoon, says the industry already has its hands full trying to meet demand.

Having an E85 filling site at every retailer is probably "some ways off yet," Wildeman said.

Still, Wildeman supports Calvert's idea and believes producers will eventually catch up. Ethanol, also known as grain alcohol,is typically made from corn or wheat in North America.

So far, Calvert's green highway plan is being met favourably by some of his counterparts. Calvert said he plans to reintroduce the idea at a leaders' meeting in August.