Alberta rebates available for fuel efficient technology

Today's Trucking News , Thursday, June 03, 2010
Correspondent :
CALGARY -- The cheque’s in the mail, or at least it could be, for Alberta truckers in the market for technology that will help them improve fuel efficiency.

The Alberta government has set aside $2 million for rebates to commercial truck owners and operators who install energy efficient technologies in their vehicles. The money officially becomes available today, June 1.

By taking advantage of the rebates, Alberta Environment estimates the trucking industry will reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 97,000 tonnes by the year 2020, which is the equivalent of taking approximately 20,000 cars off the road.

“Alberta’s trucking industry drives our economy and this program is an environmental and economic win-win for the sector and province,” says Alberta Environment Minister Rob Renner. “There are a number of ways we can reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the trucking industry and improve fuel efficiency.”

Fuel efficient technology eligible for rebate will include: auxiliary power units ($1,500), cab heaters ($400), trailer skirts ($500), end fairings ($400), gap fairings ($300), and hybrid trucks ($7,000).

Trailer skirts are just one of the fuel saving

add-ons available for rebate in Alberta.

The Alberta rebate program will be administered by Climate Change Central. The non-profit organization has administered similar programs for the government, doling out rebates for energy saving household appliances, as well as a program to get more hybrid taxis out on the road.

“Financial incentives are only part of this initiative,” says Simon Knight, president and CEO of Climate Change Central. “Twenty-five companies will also receive a tailored fleet analysis showing them how to make their fuel go further, and several workshops will be held to educate operators on reducing fuel costs by maximizing fleet performance.”

The program will run until around the end of 2011. Truckers interested in taking advantage of the rebates can visit www.trucksoftomorrow.com (or call 1-888-537-7202). On the website, operators can list the technologies they expect to purchase and the funds will be held for up to six months.

There’s also an application on the site for a special fuel analysis, and in the future there will be information on future workshops, as well as case studies of companies who have put the technology to use.

A maximum of $30,000 will be available per fleet, partly to ensure that the rebate money will be spread around and small- and medium-sized fleets, as well as individual operators will have access to the funds.

“There are lots of mid-size or small companies that don’t have the manpower or resources to get involved and this is a program to help them,” says Mayne Root, executive director of the Alberta Motor Transport Association.

The Alberta rebate program comes on the heels of a similar program being unveiled in Nova Scotia, and shortly after B.C. revealed a weight allowance for APUs.

The AMTA has been working with the Alberta government since 2005 to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions through more efficient fuel use practices and technologies, and the association is hoping a weight allowance for fuel efficient technology will follow soon.

“B.C. just added the weight allowance for APUs, so maybe that will start to put more pressure to do something,” says Root. “That, in combination with rebates, will make a good financial case for these technologies.”

 
SOURCE : http://www.todaystrucking.com/news.cfm?intDocID=24072
 


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