City requires all new gas stations to have at least one alternative fuel source after an initiative passed this week.
At its regular meeting Monday, Surrey council passed a motion requiring any new gas stations in this city include at least one alternative fuel source, such as hydrogen, compressed natural gas, or electric vehicle recharging, in addition to conventional gasoline, diesel and propane energy.
“We want to build the alternative fuel infrastructure of the future,” Mayor Dianne Watts said in a release. “It’s important for governments to set an example and lead the way in terms of advancing new technologies. By requiring service stations to provide an alternative energy source, Surrey will be encouraging and promoting new energy sources andreinforcing our position as a leader in this sector.”
Surrey notes that it’s the only city in Canada to have two hydrogen fueling station, both fully funded by the Canadian Hydrogen Fuel Cell Association.
The City of Surrey is one of only four cities in the country to receive the prestigious Fleet Gold Rating from the Fraser Basin Council for implementing reductions in green house gas (GHG) emissions, investing in low or no-carbon vehicles and energy efficient technologies, and demonstrating staff and management excellence.
The City is currently working on a number of additional green fleet initiatives, including:
· The City is operating two zero-emission Ford Focus hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCV) and is working toward expanding the number of FCV’s through a partnership with Powertech Labs. Surrey is establishing itself as a desirable market area for major original equipment manufacturers (OEMs)
· Over the course of 2011, the City will introduce a number of 100 per cent electric vehicles as part of a pilot project that will assist the City in assessing the performance of and establishing the appropriate operational changes that are required to ensure that this type of vehicle will be effective in its deployment as part of the City’s fleet
· The City will introduce Canada’s first compressed natural gas (CNG) municipal waste collection truck for residential curb side service. Natural gas emits 20 to 30 per cent fewer GHGs compared to gasoline and diesel fuels. In addition, natural gas does not pool when it is spilled and is therefore not as impactful from a contamination perspective
· In partnership with SFU’s School of Mechatronics (Surrey campus), the Engineering Department is co-sponsoring a postdoctoral research project, which was initiated in April 2011. It is focused on developing a tool that will help the City better assess the pros and cons of low carbon alternatives to gas and diesel municipal fleet vehicles. It will evaluate the City’s alternative fuel vehicles and compare full life-cycle costs (capital, operational, depreciated costs), environmental pros and cons, operational and logistics benefits, limitations, etc.
