The Honourable Pierre Claude Nolin, Senator, today announced the Government of Canada will help the Montreal Port Authority (MPA) tackle climate change and improve our environment as well as help our economy.

Under Transport Canada’s Freight Technology Demonstration Fund, the Montreal Port Authority will receive a contribution of up to $500,000 towards a demonstration project involving a multiple-generator locomotive that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fuel consumption. The project will take place in the marshalling yard at the port over a six-month period.

“Our government is proud to support this project that will benefit the environment and help make the transportation sector more competitive at a critical time in our economy,” said Senator Nolin. “We are committed to reducing Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions, and this is one more step we are taking to achieve that.”

“During this difficult economic period, our government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, is taking action with key investments that help to create jobs and are good for our environment,” said Canada’s Transport Minister, John Baird. “This initiative will help the Montreal Port Authority acquire the rail technology that will make a positive impact on port operations as well as reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants.”

Locomotives with multiple generators offer excellent potential to reduce unproductive periods by modulating the available power according to the task to be performed. The ability to start up one, two or all three generators as needed, results in fuel savings and reduces greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions. Moreover, when the operator does not use the locomotive for more than five minutes, the on-board computer puts the locomotive into standby mode, shutting off all the generators so that no emissions are produced.

“The Montreal Port Authority is very pleased to receive cost-shared funding from the federal government’s Freight Technology Demonstration Fund to study more environmentally friendly railroad equipment,” said Tony Boemi, Vice-President, Growth and Development at the Montreal Port Authority. “This avenue fits within the scope of the sustainable development vision and green approach spearheaded by MPA management.”

The Freight Technology Demonstration Fund generates cost-shared demonstrations to test and measure new and underused freight transportation technologies that reduce greenhouse gas and air pollution in Canadian conditions. It is part of Transport Canada’s ecoFREIGHT Program, which aims to reduce the effects of freight transportation on human health and the environment by promoting environmentally sound technologies and best practices in the industry.

The ecoFREIGHT Program falls under the ecoTRANSPORT Strategy, which is part of the Government of Canada’s ambitious agenda to protect the environment and the health of Canadians, and to further Canada’s economic prosperity.