No. H 022/09
For release - January 23, 2009
VANCOUVER — A new low-emission locomotive that will improve air quality in Vancouver and the Lower Fraser Valley was unveiled today by Mr. Andrew Saxton, Member of Parliament for North Vancouver and Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board, and Viterra Inc. at the company's Pacific grain terminal. The locomotive will significantly reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and other air pollutants, and speed up terminal traffic.
"Our government is delivering new, efficient technology to promote job creation and boost our economy," said Mr. Saxton. "Today's launch is further proof that we are investing in projects that encourage trade and commerce in British Columbia."
"We are very pleased to be recipients of Transport Canada's progressive program to reduce air pollution and fuel consumption," said Mr. Fran Malecha, Viterra's chief operating officer. "Viterra is committed to environmental initiatives that have a positive impact on the communities where we work and live, and society at large. Our new low-emission locomotive is a way for us to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while creating logistical efficiencies at the terminal."
"Preserving the environment is a core value for Port Metro Vancouver," said Captain Gordon Houston, president and chief executive officer of the port. "We applaud Viterra's environmental leadership and commitment to implementing innovative solutions to reduce harmful air emissions while increasing terminal efficiencies."
Viterra Inc. purchased the locomotive with the assistance of Transport Canada's Freight Technology Incentives Program. The new locomotive has two high-speed diesel engines and generators. It is powerful enough to pull 28 loaded grain cars at a time using only one engine, decreasing the number of trips required to completely unload a shipment. This allows for fewer trips across a grade crossing at the terminal, resulting in less disruption of traffic.
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The Freight Technology Incentives Program is part of Transport Canada's ecoFREIGHT Program, which aims to reduce the environmental and health effects of freight transportation through the use of technology and best practices.
The Freight Technology Incentives Program is designed to encourage the use of innovative environmental technologies in the freight transportation sector by reducing cost barriers of new technologies.
Organizations involved in freight transportation are eligible to apply for cost-shared funding to support the purchase and installation of proven emissions-reducing technologies throughout the freight transportation system. Applicants may be involved in any of the four modes of transportation: air, marine, rail and road. Examples include air carriers, railways, trucking companies, marine carriers, and eligible port and airport facilities.
Under the program, projects may be funded to cover a maximum of 50 per cent of eligible costs, not exceeding $500,000 over a two-year period.
Viterra Inc., Canada’s leading agri-business, will receive a contribution of up to $490,750 under the program to assist with the purchase of an ultra low-emitting genset locomotive, which is designed to reduce air pollution and fuel consumption. The locomotive is to be used at the company’s Pacific grain terminal in Vancouver.
The Freight Technology Incentives Program and the ecoFREIGHT Program fall under the ecoTRANSPORT Strategy. This strategy is part of the Government of Canada’s ambitious agenda to protect the environment and the health of Canadians, and to further Canada’s economic prosperity.
For further information on the Freight Technology Incentives Program, please visit http://www.tc.gc.ca/programs/environment/ecofreight/about/programincentive.htm.
January 2009
