Greenhouse Gas Reduction Focus of New Banff-Calgary Project

Commercial tour operators travelling from Calgary to Banff and within Canada's first National Park, have partnered with Climate Change Central, ATCO Gas and government to launch a major project targeted at reducing greenhouse gas emissions by more than 25 per cent.

eMission Banff will initially convert more than 60 commercial vehicles - mainly large passenger vans and shuttle buses - to run on natural gas, significantly reducing toxic emissions during the more than four million kilometres driven each year.

At least six major tour companies using Canada's oldest National Park or regularly travelling the Trans-Canada Highway between Calgary and Banff have signed to switch to cleaner natural gas.

"Canada's most famous National Park is the perfect place to launch a project symbolizing real effort to help preserve Canada's environment for generations to come," said ATCO Gas Vice-President John Carroll. "This partnership announced during national environment week shows that working together we can make a difference in the Calgary-Banff corridor."

Spearheaded by ATCO Gas, eMission Banff involves tour companies, Climate Change Central and Natural Resources Canada.

As part of the agreement, the Town of Banff intends to convert its public transit buses from diesel fuel to natural gas, and ATCO will build a new fueling facility in the mountain community to complement one near the Calgary International Airport. ATCO Gas will work to establish a conversion facility for on-going maintenance in the Bow Valley as the company works to increase the total number of commercial vehicles switching to natural gas. Already Banff Airport has converted half its vehicles to natural gas.

Climate Change Central will contribute $85,000 in funding, providing grants of $2,000 to tour firms ordering a new natural-gas powered vehicle and $1,000 to companies retrofitting existing vans and buses. Climate Change Central's funding complements Natural Resources Canada's existing Natural Gas Vehicle program which will provide $2,000 for factory natural-gas powered vehicles, $500 for retrofits and support the refueling station with a $12,500 contribution.

"This project makes an immediate positive environmental impact and demonstrates what can happen when several forward looking organizations work in partnership to make a difference," emphasized Allan Amey, President and Chief Executive Officer of Climate Change Central.

Tour companies will also immediately benefit from decreased operating costs as natural gas is currently 50% less expensive than gasoline.

In a letter offering their wholehearted support for eMission Banff, officials noted: "The Town of Banff will encourage the use of natural gas vehicles as it is a benefit to the local and global environments."

The reduction of greenhouse gases will be complemented by significant reductions in other smog and cancer causing pollutants.

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 more than 300 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 and more than 6000 employees engaged in Logistics and Energy Services, Power Generation, Industrials, Utilities, and Technologies. More information regarding ATCO can be found on website www.ATCO.com.

More further information, please contact:

John Carroll
Vice-President
ATCO Gas
(403) 245-7612

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

www.atcogas.com
www.climatechangecentral.com