Feds back greener freight movement with greenbacks
OTTAWA -- The federal government is investing millions of dollars to help limit the emission of greenhouse gases during freight movement. Eight projects will receive $2.4 million in funding under Transport Canada's Freight Technology Demonstration Fund, and a further 15 projects will receive $3.7 million under the Freight Technology Incentives Program. Funding is being allocated to initiatives in the transportation of freight in the air, truck, rail and marine modes. "These ecoFREIGHT initiatives help transport companies acquire available technology. The result is lower emissions of greenhouse gases and other air pollutants," said Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. The Freight Technology Demonstration Fund and the Freight Technology Incentives Program together are part of Transport Canada's ecoFREIGHT Program. The Freight Technology Demonstration Fund helps test and measure new and underused freight transportation technologies that can reduce emissions when operated in Canadian conditions. The Freight Technology Incentives Program provides incentives for companies to purchase and install proven but underused freight transportation technologies that reduce emissions. Projects funded under both these programs are eligible for a contribution of 50 percent of eligible costs, up to a maximum of $500,000, and must be implemented within a two-year period. Remaining costs must be contributed by funding recipients and their partners. As part of the Freight Technology Demonstration Fund the Canadian Trucking Alliance will receive up to $95,000 for multiple truck technologies, Bison Transport will receive up to $500,000 for aerodynamic trailer fairings, Paradise Island Foods will receive up to $104,835 for on-board computers and hybrid reefer technology, Group Robert will receive up to $390,279 for composite trailer skirts on long-haul, two- and three-axle tractor-trailers, and Teleflex Canada will receive up to $296,910 towards for an engineless (non-petroleum) system that can supply heating, ventilation and air conditioning to Class 5-8 trucks while they are parked, so that the main vehicle engine does not have to idle. As part of the Freight Technology Incentives Program Jeff Bryan Transport will receive up to $323,500 for APUs, speed limiters, single wide-base tires and remote satellite control of refrigeration units, Logistics Transwest will receive up to $171,495 for trailer skirts, boat tails, single wide-base tires and eco-flaps on its trucks and semi-trailers, Cascades Transport will receive up to $303,147 for trailer side skirts, Travelers Transportation Services will receive up to $97,180 for auxiliary cooling and heating units, Sunbury Transport will receive up to $479,400 for APUs, Manitoulin Transportation will receive up to $376,695 for APUs that can also be connected to an electrical outlet at the Manitoulin facilities, and Transport Magog Express will receive up to $43,492 for APUs.