Natural Gas and Electric-Powered Vehicles Offer Clear Benefits to Ontario's Environment and Economy

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - April 26, 2016) - Research presented today by Dr. Daniel Hoornweg, University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT), at the Ontario Energy Association's (OEA) Speaker Series, Exploring Alternative Transportation Options in Ontario: Electric & Natural Gas Vehicles, states Ontario can save billions of dollars in fuel costs and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by 2050 if it addresses transportation issues and implements solutions that include increased reliance on natural gas and electric-powered vehicles.

"As a minimum, the proposed approach which includes making the switch to other cleaner, safer and more affordable energy alternatives, would provide fuel savings costs of some $76 billion and reduced greenhouse gas emissions of more than 100 million tonnes by 2050," says Dr. Hoornweg.

The research study from UOIT led by Dr. Hoornweg, was prepared as part of ongoing transportation work through the university's Jeffrey S. Boyce Research Chair in Natural Gas as a Transportation Fuel. The research takes an integrated retrospective view from 2050, and concludes that a long-term approach focusing on clean and affordable solutions is feasible with the use of electric-powered personal vehicles and natural gas-powered buses and heavy-duty trucks.

"Some private trucking firms and municipal bus fleets have already transitioned from diesel to liquefied natural gas as a transportation fuel," says Dr. Hoornweg. "Natural gas is particularly cost-effective in areas of high-volume transportation like Southern Ontario. It is less expensive, burns cleaner and dramatically reduces greenhouse gas emissions."

The OEA has also advocated that fuel switching (greater adoption of Liquefied Natural Gas/Compressed Natural Gas vehicles) will significantly improve the emissions profile of Ontario's transportation sector. The OEA's submission to the Government on Bill 172, Climate Change Mitigation and Low-Carbon Economy Act is available at the link below.

"The transportation sector is the single largest source of GHG emissions in Ontario and reducing transportation emissions will go a long way to reaching the government's reduction targets," says Bob Huggard, OEA President and CEO. "With an increased use of natural gas and electric powered vehicles, the proposed strategy offers effective solutions for both Ontario's low-carbon economy and climate change mitigation goals."

For a downloadable copy of the full UOIT study, Dr. Hoornweg's presentation and the OEA submission on Bill 172, click on the link(s) below:

- UOIT Research Study - http://bit.ly/1SpRaJM

- Dr. Hoornweg's Presentation - http://bit.ly/1XNb5AV

- OEA Bill 172 Submission - http://bit.ly/1VdZ3T7

The Ontario Energy Association (OEA) aspires to be the most credible and trusted voice of the energy sector. We earn our reputation by being an integral and influential part of energy policy development and decision-making in Ontario. We represent Ontario's energy leaders that span the full diversity of the energy industry. Together, we are working to build a stronger energy future for Ontario.