The former Invigor Bioenergy plant, now known as Canary Biofuels, shown in 2021 photo. Canary Biofuels will take advantage of a tax credit for its expansion project. (Photo: Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

Lethbridge-area biofuels plant to receive $1.7 million tax credit for expansion

Feb 26, 2025 | 2:45 PM

The Government of Alberta says its tax-friendly business environment is encouraging businesses to grow.

The Agri-Processing Investment Tax Credit was launched in spring 2023, which provides a 12 per cent tax credit when companies invest at least $10 million in a project to build or expand a value-added agri-processing facility in Alberta.

The province highlighted Canary Biofuels as the most recent example of a business taking advantage of the tax credit.

The firm opened across from the Lethbridge Airport in 2021 and is in the midst of a significant expansion project. They turn items like grains, meat and other agricultural by-products into low-emissions fuel.

Canary Biofuels is investing $18 million to quadruple its biofuel production from 50,000 megatonnes per year to 200,000 megatonnes.

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CEO George Wadsworth thanked the Government of Alberta for the tax incentive, which will save the company approximately $1.7 million.

“Programs like the Agri-Processing Investment Tax Credit are essential for smaller companies like Canary to access capital. This project will support jobs and indirectly support thousands of Albertan and Canadian oilseed farmers by providing more localized offtake for their crops, including off-spec materials,” says Wadsworth.

Through the expansion, Canary Biofuels plans to create 40 permanent and 25 temporary jobs.

Lethbridge-East MLA Nathan Neudorf says the expansion is great news for southern Alberta.

“The Agri-Processing Investment Tax Credit is a prime example of how our government is strengthening our agriculture industry by supporting businesses, like Canary Biofuels, to grow, create jobs, and continue to help drive our economy forward,” says Neudorf.

As of February 11, 2025, 16 corporations had applied for the tax credit, 10 of which have received conditional approval.

READ MORE: Biofuel plant near Lethbridge to expand, include more types of farm waste

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