Government eyes biofuels as replacement for diesel in naval ships

OTTAWA – Before Ottawa goes full steam ahead with an idea to power Canada’s navy ships with biofuels, it wants to know if the cost of doing so will sink the plan.

The federal government is asking companies to submit proposals on how it might use cost-effective biofuels to replace diesel.

They’re also being asked to determine whether any potential biofuel would make vessels more or less efficient.

A notice posted on a government-contracting website says biofuels are much cleaner than conventional fuels, but simply switching over is complicated — and potentially costly.

The cost of a proposed U.S. initiative for a “Great Green Fleet” — powered by biofuels and other clean-energy sources — is a major sticking point in Congress.

Republicans oppose the idea, saying biofuels would add huge costs at a time when defence budgets face cuts.