
Quebec Moves Forward
On November 1st Quebec recognized natural gas as the future of the transportation business. The provincial government announced a program to subsidize up to 30 per cent of the cost premium of natural gas trucks for the freight transport and heavy vehicle industries.
The rebate covers the additional costs involved in outfitting vehicles to operate on natural gas. Gaz Metro applauds the move – they operate a number of natural gas refueling stations across Quebec.
Sophie Brochu, president and CEO of Gaz Metro, said the measures announced “are important, because they will help speed up the use of natural gas as fuel, resulting in an immediate reduction of up to 25 per cent in GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions.”
Overall, the transportation sector contributes 42.5 per cent of all GHG produced in the province and trucks. Freight trains and ships account for almost a third of that. Natural gas use, across these industries, could create a significant reduction in this amount. Plus, it can do it all while saving their owners up to 40 per cent at the pump.
Robert Transport and EBI, Quebec’s highest profile users of natural gas trucks, are already appreciating the cost savings. However, natural gas could make even greater strides for use in ships and locomotives.
But clean, affordable and reliable natural gas already contributes greatly to our everyday lives. Ontario benefits from this reality every day. As in Quebec, it’s this province’s turn to create programs like these, to ensure a better future.
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