No. H074/05
For release - April 18, 2005
SASKATOON — A new project in Saskatchewan under Transport Canada's Freight Sustainability Demonstration Program has been selected to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the freight transportation sector.
Finance Minister Ralph Goodale today announced, on behalf of Transport Minister Jean-C. Lapierre, that Saskatoon Diesel Services has been selected to receive $105,944 under the program to build and demonstrate an auxiliary power unit for oil industry service trucks that is expected to be more efficient and reliable than any currently available in the market.
"The Government of Canada supports environmental sustainability, innovation and development," said Mr. Goodale. "We are proud to work with Saskatoon Diesel Services on this project. This is an excellent example of how we can balance economic and environmental needs to the benefit of Saskatchewan and all Canadians."
The Freight Sustainability Demonstration Program supports the demonstration and evaluation of innovative tools, technologies and practices that have the potential to reduce the growth of greenhouse gas emissions from the freight transportation sector in Canada. The Government of Canada will contribute up to 50 per cent of eligible project expenses, to a maximum of $250,000, with applicants and their partners contributing the remainder. Approximately $4.5 million will be allocated under the program between 2001 and 2007.
"Not only does this project demonstrate the transportation industry's ingenuity, it also has the potential to generate tangible results for Canada's freight transportation sector as well as our environment." said Mr. Lapierre.
To date, the government has announced approximately $3.7 million in funding for 30 projects across Canada under the Freight Sustainability Demonstration Program.
The program is part of the Freight Efficiency and Technology Initiative that was established under the Government of Canada Action Plan 2000 on Climate Change.
More information on the Freight Sustainability Demonstration Program is available at www.tc.gc.ca/FSDP.
Backgrounders with information on projects and the program are attached.
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Contacts:
Irène MarcheterreDirector of CommunicationsOffice of the Minister, Ottawa(613) 991-0700
Chris KrepskiCommunicationsTransport Canada, Ottawa(613) 993-0055
Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to news releases and speeches at www.tc.gc.ca/e-news and keep up-to-date on the latest from Transport Canada.
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BACKGROUNDERPROJECTS FUNDED UNDERTHE SIXTH ROUND OF THE FREIGHTSUSTAINABILITY DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM
The following projects have been selected for the sixth round of funding under the Freight Sustainability Demonstration Program:
WhiteHot auxiliary power unit for oil industry service trucks and long haul highway trucksProject location: Saskatoon, SaskatchewanSaskatoon Diesel Services will receive $105,944 to demonstrate an auxiliary power unit that is expected to be more efficient and reliable than any currently available in the market. The auxiliary power unit has been designed to operate in difficult conditions and will employ exhaust gas heat recovery to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
April 2005
BACKGROUNDERFREIGHT SUSTAINABILITY DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM
The Freight Sustainability Demonstration Program supports the demonstration and evaluation of innovative tools, technologies and practices that have the potential to reduce the growth of greenhouse gas emissions in Canada's freight transportation sector.
The program, announced as part of the Government of Canada's Action Plan 2000 on Climate Change, will allocate approximately $4.5 million between 2001 and 2007 for projects that meet the program's criteria. Projects are eligible for a maximum program contribution of $250,000 over two years. Government of Canada contributions will cover up to 50 per cent of eligible project expenses, with applicants and their partners contributing the remainder. Some 30 projects have already been approved for funding.
Transport Canada, together with Natural Resources Canada, selects projects to receive funding under the program, taking into account the recommendations of an advisory committee including representatives of other federal departments, academic institutions, and other not-for-profit organizations. Applications are accepted twice a year, in the spring and the fall. For specific dates, please see the Applicant's Guide on the Freight Sustainability Demonstration Program website listed below.
All participants in the Freight Sustainability Demonstration Program are required to monitor greenhouse gas emissions and report findings from their projects to the program secretariat at Transport Canada.
Transport Canada will make information on successful technologies and best practices available at conferences and other venues and on the Freight Sustainability Demonstration Program website at www.tc.gc.ca/FSDP.
The Freight Sustainability Demonstration Program is part of the Freight Efficiency and Technology Initiative which includes a range of different initiatives designed to reduce the growth of greenhouse gas emissions in the freight transportation sector.
April 2005
