Published May 15, 2012
By Philippe Crowe
The government of British Columbia, Canada, announced today a $62 million incentive program to promote the adoption of natural gas vehicles in the province.
The B.C. Ministry of Energy and Mines launched the Greenhouse Gas Reduction regulation that advances the adoption and deployment of natural gas vehicles (NGVs) in BC.
Westport Innovations, supplier of solutions that allow engines to operate on clean-burning fuels, said this important program will benefit British Columbia's economy, environment and transportation options for industry.
The regulation permits a utility company to spend up to $62 million on vehicle and ferry incentives, up to $12 million on compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling stations and up to $30.5 million on liquefied natural gas stations, for a total of $104.5 million.
This regulation allows utility companies to deliver natural gas transportation programs until March 31, 2017, including the opportunity to: 1) offer incentives to transportation fleets that would use natural gas such as buses, trucks or ferries; 2) build, own and operate compressed natural gas fueling stations or liquefied natural gas fueling stations; and 3) upgrade facilities to provide training to safely maintain natural gas vehicles.
The Greenhouse Gas Reduction regulation will in huge part promote the use of British Columbia's abundant natural gas resources as a transportation fuel in heavy-duty transport vehicles, such as trucks, transit buses, school buses, refuse trucks and marine vessels.
The program's objectives include displacing high carbon fuel, reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and increasing natural gas fueling infrastructure. Natural gas is generally 25 to 40 per cent cheaper than gasoline and diesel and produces up to 25 per cent fewer GHG emissions compared to a gasoline or diesel vehicle.
In addition, the Province is offering direct grants of up to $2,500 to purchasers of qualifying CNG vehicles. This is being offered through the $14.3 million Clean Energy Vehicle Program, announced in Nov. 2011.
