No. H 020/09
For release - January 23, 2009
WINNIPEG — Polluting emissions in Winnipeg will be reduced following today's unveiling of a new WinSmart biodiesel fuelling station that will supply Winnipeg's municipal fleet with B10 biodiesel. The Honourable Steven Fletcher, Minister of State (Democratic Reform), announced that the federal government has invested $185,325 in this portion of the WinSmart showcase. The Government of Canada, the Province of Manitoba and the City of Winnipeg have invested in this project.
"Our government is proud to be investing in this green transportation alternative for the Pembina Corridor," said Minister Fletcher. "This federal investment will help reduce environmental impacts, support innovative technologies and help boost the economy right here in Winnipeg."
The biofuelling station is part of a number of integrated green transportation measures that the City of Winnipeg is implementing under WinSmart, which has received funding under Transport Canada's Urban Transportation Showcase Program. Under the program, Transport Canada is providing this funding to increase the supply and awareness of alternative fuels in Winnipeg.
"The Manitoba Government is a strong advocate for the aggressive development and use of biofuels in our province," said the Honourable Jim Rondeau, Manitoba's Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mines. "The opening of this facility will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Winnipeg and will go a long way in helping us reach our climate change commitments."
"This biodiesel project demonstrates our commitment to explore and identify energy–efficient alternatives, and continue reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the City of Winnipeg," said Mayor Sam Katz. "We are confident that this pilot project will lead to the expanded use of cleaner–burning fuels in our entire fleet of city vehicles."
A backgrounder with further information about the Urban Transportation Showcase Program and WinSmart is attached.
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Transport Canada's Urban Transportation Showcase Program is a $35–million program that demonstrates, evaluates and promotes effective strategies to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from urban transportation.
The program collaborates with other jurisdictions to gain experience in Canada with green technologies and practices that are used in other countries. Financial, emissions and efficiency results from the green transportation showcases are measured and published to make it easier for other cities to adopt successful strategies.
Together with regional transportation authorities, municipalities and provinces, the program co–funds a Canada–wide series of green transportation showcases. These showcases combine the purchase of leading–edge technologies with the construction of infrastructure and the enhancement of planning and services to improve transportation in Canadian cities while reducing GHG emissions.
The City of Winnipeg was selected in November 2003 as one of eight Canadian municipalities to showcase innovative transportation–related technologies to reduce GHG emissions. The others are the Greater Toronto Area and Hamilton; Greater Vancouver; Halifax; Quebec City; Montreal and Gatineau, Quebec; Whitehorse, Yukon; and the Region of Waterloo, Ontario.
Winnipeg's WinSmart showcase will receive up to $2.2 million in federal funding. WinSmart focuses on the city's Pembina Corridor. This 15–kilometre corridor is one of the fastest growing and most heavily used areas of the city. Initiatives include transit priority measures; multimodal transit stations; local transportation demand management programs; efficient use of cars and trucks; active transportation infrastructure; community marketing; and the biodiesel fuelling station.
The fuelling station will supply vehicles in Winnipeg's municipal fleet with B10 biodiesel, a blend of 10 per cent biodiesel and 90 per cent conventional diesel fuel. Biodiesel is an alternative fuel for use in diesel engines that is made from natural renewable sources, such as vegetable oils, and that does not contain petroleum.
For more information on the Urban Transportation Showcase Program, visit www.tc.gc.ca/programs/environment/utsp/menu.htm.
January 2009
