MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –
Source: Government of Canada – MIL OSI Regional News in French
Press release
Edmonton, Alberta, January 31, 2024 — Communities across the country are developing strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including reducing carbon emissions from public transit.
Today, Minister Randy Boissonnault, Curtis Eck, Vice President, Engineering, FortisAlberta, and Josipa Petrunic, President and CEO of the Canadian Urban Transit Research and Innovation Consortium (CUTRIC), announced a combined investment of $550,092 for the Alberta Municipal Constellation Project.
The Alberta Municipal Constellation Project is a comprehensive study to guide the acquisition and deployment of zero-emission buses for nine transit agencies – Airdrie, Banff/Bow Valley, Fort Saskatchewan, Hinton, Leduc, Rocky View, Spruce Grove, Strathcona County and Whitecourt – in Alberta by assessing the economic, technical and environmental considerations associated with this transition. The study, led by CUTRIC and FortisAlberta, is being conducted in collaboration with local municipalities and the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers (OSPE). The project will guide local transit agencies in planning for the integration of zero-emission buses in the years ahead and provide a regional energy needs modelling study to ensure that needs can be met. Once the project is complete, the results will be shared with all participating communities, helping to spread the benefits of this important project.
By investing in the electrification of Canada’s public transit systems, the Government of Canada is ensuring that communities across the country have access to clean and affordable transportation, which helps grow our country’s economy and improve the lives of Canadians.
Quotes
“When we invest in Alberta, we must consider current and future generations of our province. Our government remains committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, and we will achieve this goal by funding clean transit projects, like this collaboration with FortisAlberta, OSPE, CUTRIC and local transit agencies. This project will provide Albertans with cleaner, quieter and more efficient travel, while contributing to our collective efforts to combat climate change.”
The Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, on behalf of the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities
“We are committed to supporting municipalities in our service area in their efforts to decarbonize their transit fleets. Our collaboration is designed to provide a comprehensive analytical framework that assesses economic impacts and designs energy management strategies for seamless integration into Alberta’s electricity grid. Leveraging our distribution planning expertise, FortisAlberta will assess and mitigate the challenges of grid capacity and voltage constraints associated with the decarbonization of municipal fleets. This initiative will facilitate the efficient and effective use of existing distribution infrastructure, ensuring a sustainable transition to greener transit solutions.”
Curtis Eck, Vice President, Engineering, FortisAlberta
“This first-of-its-kind project symbolizes the power of collaboration, bringing together municipalities and FortisAlberta to lead the way in zero-emission vehicles in the years to come. Through this project, we hope to not only meet the evolving energy needs of these regions, but also serve as a catalyst for positive change in sustainable transportation. We are confident that the results of this study will guide our partner organizations in their strategic planning and decision-making, fostering a cleaner, greener future for Alberta communities. CUTRIC looks forward to leading the way in innovative and environmentally responsible public transit.”
Josipa Petrunić, President and CEO of the Canadian Urban Transit Research and Innovation Consortium (CUTRIC)
“The Bow Valley Regional Transit Services Commission is committed to supporting the introduction of low-emission vehicles and related infrastructure in our region. As we operate in and around Banff National Park, it is essential that we respect the environment and be at the forefront of reducing emissions in the operation of our transit services. Fortis and CUTRIC’s involvement in the project is a critical step in continuing our transition and we are excited to be part of this initiative!”
Martin Bean, CEO, Roam Transit
“Our partnership with FortisAlberta and other municipalities on the electric bus feasibility study reflects our commitment to a more sustainable future. We are grateful for the support we receive from Infrastructure Canada through the Zero Emission Transit Fund. Airdrie is on the path to sustainable and efficient public transit.”
Peter Brown, Mayor of the City of Airdrie
Quick Facts
The Government of Canada is providing a contribution of $440,074 to this project through the Zero Emission Public Transit Fund (ZETF). FortisAlberta is contributing $110,018.
The nine Alberta communities included in this study are: Airdrie, Banff/Bow Valley, Fort Saskatchewan, Hinton, Leduc, Rocky View, Spruce Grove, Strathcona County and Whitecourt. The study will help these communities plan their transition to zero-emission buses.
The FTCZE helps communities transition to zero-emission school and transit buses to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to Canada’s net-zero emissions targets. By electrifying their bus fleets, communities are working to ensure our children benefit from a cleaner environment, while supporting Canada’s manufacturing sector.
This Fund is closely coordinated with the Zero-Emission Bus Initiative, under which the BIC has committed to investing more than $1.5 billion to support the acquisition of zero-emission buses.
The Government of Canada is investing billions of dollars to provide predictable federal funding for public transit. This funding will be available starting in 2026–27 to support solutions for reliable, fast, affordable and clean public transit. The CZETF complements Canada’s Strengthened Climate Plan: A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy. As part of this plan, the federal government is committing to providing permanent federal funding for public transit to ensure every community has clean and affordable transportation options.
Under an agreement with CRITUC, the Government of Canada is investing $10 million over five years through the FTCZE to help transit bus operators conduct planning work and improve their readiness for a transition to zero-emission bus fleets.
CRITUC’s mission is to support the commercialization of technologies through industry-led research, development, demonstration and integration projects that bring innovative design to Canada’s low-carbon smart mobility ecosystem.
Related links
Contact persons
For further information (media only), please contact:
Micaal AhmedManager, CommunicationsOffice of the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities343-598-3920micaal.ahmed@infc.gc.ca
Media RelationsInfrastructure Canada613-960-9251Toll Free: 1-877-250-7154Email: media-medias@infc.gc.caFollow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram And LinkedInWebsite: Infrastructure Canada
Media RelationsFortisAlbertaPeter BrodskyManager, Public Affairs and Corporate Communications403-514-4040peter.brodsky@fortisalberta.com
Media RelationsCanadian Urban Transit Research and Innovation Consortium (CUTRIC)Rachael D’AmoreTalk Shop Mediarachael@talkshopmedia.com
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.