Mayoral candidate Craig Burrows says he will convert the city’s buses to natural gas for both Alberta’s economic benefit and the environment if he wins the city’s top political post.
"We now need to support our oil and gas sector," Burrows said.
A 10-year plan to incrementally convert the buses to natural gas would reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save Calgary Transit millions each year on its bus fuel bills, Burrows said.
"It’s proven technology. It’s across North America," said the former alderman.
"I’m going to challenge the mayor of Edmonton to do the same thing, force the province to do the same thing for all municipalities, and then we can send the challenge out to Ontario and Quebec — because they seem to have a problem with oilsands. Great. Buy our gas."
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority in Los Angeles County has more than 2,500 compressed natural gas buses. John Rilett, vice-president at Alberta’s Climate Change Central, said a handful of Canadian centres, such as Vancouver and Kitchener-Waterloo, also have natural gas buses. "There’s no reason we couldn’t do it here in Calgary," he said.
Rilett said in extremely cold weather, it’s hard to keep the natural gas flowing, but there are ways to get around that problem. He also said high upfront costs of building the infrastructure for natural gas vehicles have dissuaded political leaders in the past.
"The barriers have been significant," he said.
However, with better engine technology and lower natural gas prices — thanks in part to shale extraction — it’s now become a more attractive proposal.
Other mayoral candidates have released some details of their public transit platforms, including Naheed Nenshi, who says he would remove the $3 Park and Ride parking charge and add technologies like smart cards and global positioning systems that track the next bus or train.
Wayne Stewart said he would urge the creation of new rapid transit routes.
kcryderman@theherald.canwest.com
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