ATCO Gas fuels its environmental commitment with opening of Banff Natural Gas Refueling Station

The air became a little cleaner today for residents and visitors of Banff National Park, with the official opening of the first publicly accessible Natural Gas Vehicle (NGV) Refueling Station in a national park.

"Natural gas is the cleanest fossil fuel available today," said Jerome Engler, ATCO Gas Executive Vice President. "Banff and area residents, along with fleet operators, now have access to an economical, environmentally beneficial vehicle fuel."

The environmental benefits of using natural gas as an alternative to gasoline or diesel are well documented, but the cost-saving economic benefits are also emerging for transportation companies.

With the current retail price at approximately $0.319 per litre of gasoline equivalent, natural gas is available at approximately one half the cost of gasoline or diesel and two thirds the cost of propane, said Graeme Feltham, Senior Engineer, ATCO Gas.

To date, at least six major tour companies operating in Banff, or shuttling between Calgary and the national park, have signed to switch to cleaner natural gas. The Town of Banff intends to convert its public transit buses from diesel fuel to natural gas using grants of up to $4,000 currently available to all vehicle owners willing to adopt the environmentally progressive fuel.

"The protection of Canada's natural environment is a national concern shared by ATCO Gas and our Environmental Policy outlines this commitment and incorporates practices that will limit greenhouse gas emissions," Engler said. Additionally, ATCO Gas is active in community programs that promote the awareness of climate change and offers information and support for efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. "We have partnered with Climate Change Central, Natural Resources Canada and commercial tour operators traveling from Calgary to Banff and within Canada's first national park, in the eMission Banff initiative," said Engler. Emission Banff is a major environmentally progressive program targeted at reducing greenhouse gas emissions by more than 25 per cent.

"eMission Banff is a great example of the leadership role Alberta is taking in reducing greenhouse gas emissions" said Allan Amey, President and CEO of Climate Change Central. "The eMission Banff project has an immediate positive environmental impact and demonstrates what can be achieved when organizations work together", said Amey.

Today's opening of the NGV Refueling Station in Canada's premier national park marks a significant milestone for the eMission Banff project. The new station will bring the environmental and financial benefits of natural gas to the transportation market running along the TransCanada Highway between Calgary and Banff.

"The use of natural gas reduces carbon dioxide by 26 per cent and provides significant reductions in nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide and other smog forming pollutants coming from vehicle tailpipes," said Feltham. "This reduction in conventional and greenhouse gas emissions makes natural gas vehicles the most environmentally responsible way to provide motorized transportation."

The addition of the refueling station in Banff expands the current NGV infrastructure throughout Alberta, which already includes 13 stations located in Edmonton, Red Deer, Calgary and Lethbridge.

Climate Change Central is a private-public partnership established in 1999 to serve as a catalyst for, and coordinator of, activities by individuals, businesses, institutions and governments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Alberta.

ATCO Gas, with 350 vehicles fueled by clean burning natural gas, is part of the ATCO Group of Companies, an Alberta based corporation with a worldwide organization of companies employing more than 6,000 persons engaged in Logistics and Energy Services, Power Generation, Industrials, Utilities, and Technologies. More information regarding ATCO can be found at www.ATCO.com.

More further information, please contact:

Graeme Feltham, Senior Engineer
ATCO Gas
(780) 420-7292
www.atcogas.com

Alan Amey, President and CEO
Climate Change Central
(403) 517-2701