OTTAWA, December. 9, 2011 - Industry and
government representatives met in Ottawa today to launch the
implementation of a roadmap that will guide market development for
natural gas as a transportation fuel in Canada.
Facilitated by Natural Resources Canada, the kick-off meeting
included representatives of Canada's trucking, oil and gas,
manufacturing, and transportation industries.
The meeting was welcomed by the Canadian Natural Gas Vehicle
Alliance (CNGVA) as a major step forward for the Natural Gas Use in
the Canadian Transportation Sector.
The roadmap's focus for market development will be medium- and
heavy trucks and buses that operate in regional corridors and urban
fleets.
"Greater use of natural gas in transportation is a win/win for
Canada," said Wayne Geis, Vice President of Canada's largest
natural gas producer, Encana Corporation, and incoming Chair of the
CNGVA.
"Natural gas is an affordable,
lower-emission fuel and industry is making significant investments
to bring it into the transportation market. Collaboration will
accelerate fleet use and create the right conditions for even
greater private sector investment." Wayne Geis, Vice
President, Encana Corporation
Natural Resources Canada'secoENERGY for Alternative Fuels
initiativewill provide support for early stage roadmap
implementation work including the creation of a bilingual, national
website, the establishment of two regional resource hubs to support
fleets, and the re-initiation of codes and standards activities for
natural gas vehicles.
Natural gas use in transportation can open a new market for an
abundant Canadian resource and help offset declining exports to the
U.S. New jobs for Canadians will be created in the supply
chain for fuel, vehicles, and stations as North American
market demand increases. Canadian companies are leaders in
developing innovative natural gas engine technologies
for heavy trucks and buses.
The CNGVA leads the sustainable growth of natural gas as a
primary transportation fuel for the benefit of Canada's economy and
environment. Canada's first major liquefied natural gas (LNG)
highway truck projects recently launched in Québec and British
Columbia.
The first Canadian natural gas ferries were also recently
announced in Québec. Surrey, British Columbia, is Canada's
first municipality to require the use of lower-emission natural gas
trucks for residential refuse collection.
For further information please visit www.cngva.org