Looking north at the U.S. Houlton border crossing customs office (Image: ezbordercrossing.com)
The Canadian Gas Association (CGA) and the Canadian Natural Gas Vehicle Alliance (CNGVA) fully support a new plan that will see greater cooperation between Canada and the United States on the use of natural gas as a transportation fuel.
The Harper Government and the Obama Administration released the Canada-United States Regulatory Cooperation Council’s Joint Forward Plan late last week. This Plan sets the stage for improvements in the way regulatory departments and agencies in both countries work together. The Plan makes it easier for businesses to operate in both countries with 24 priority areas identified including the use of natural gas as a transportation fuel.
“Natural gas can help reduce the operating costs of medium-and heavy-duty trucks, transit buses, rail, marine, and off-road fleets. This helps keep the Canadian economy moving forward,” said Timothy M. Egan, President of the Canadian Gas Association. “Greater cooperation between the two countries will help ensure consumer choice, foster economic development, and keep Canada competitive, particularly with our biggest trading partner, the United States.”
The Plan states that in the area of alternative fuel use in transportation, namely natural gas, Natural Resources Canada and the U.S. Department of Energy will build on previous work to facilitate the development of common codes and standards, and explore any opportunities for alignment among stakeholders. This includes a commitment to share information, identify emerging areas in natural gas deployment, and explore challenges in codes and standards harmonization.
“North America has a tremendous natural gas resource advantage. Regulatory cooperation supporting greater use of natural gas in the transportation sector is a win-win for both Canada and the United States,” said Alicia Milner, President of the Canadian Natural Gas Vehicle Alliance. “Canada’s natural gas vehicle industry looks forward to continued collaboration with Natural Resources Canada to address technical barriers and to provide outreach to fleets interested in natural gas vehicle deployment.
Editor Notes:
Natural Resources Canada launched the Natural Gas Use in the Canadian Transportation Sector – Deployment Roadmap in December 2011.
CNGVA is an affiliated association of NGV Global.
(Source: CNGVA, CGA)
