Canada - United States Regulatory Cooperation on Natural Gas as a Transportation Fuel Fully Supported by Canadian Gas Association and Canadian Natural Gas Vehicle Alliance

OTTAWA, Sept 4, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - The Canadian Gas Association and the Canadian Natural Gas Vehicle Alliance 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.

About CGA
The Canadian Gas Association (CGA) is the voice of Canada's natural gas distribution industry and its members are distribution companies, transmission companies, equipment manufacturers and other service providers. Natural gas has a central place in Canada's energy mix meeting over 30 per cent of the country's energy needs. Today over 6.5 million customers representing well over half the Canadian population rely on natural gas for heat and power in homes, apartments, buildings, businesses, hospitals and schools.

About CNGVA
The CNGVA advocates for greater use of natural gas as a primary transportation fuel for the benefit of Canada's economy and environment. The CNGVA leads the natural gas vehicle industry's participation in the Go With Natural Gas initiative focused on encouraging greater use of factory-built natural gas fleet vehicles as well as working with a broad range of stakeholders to identify and address barriers to the use of natural gas in the marine sector.

Related Products and Links:
Joint Forward Plan
www.actionplan.gc.ca/rcc
www.trade.gov/rcc  
www.cga.ca
www.cngva.ca
www.gowithnaturalgas.ca

SOURCE: Canadian Gas Association

Paula Dunlop, Director, Public Affairs and Strategy, Canadian Gas Association, 613-748-0057 ext. 341, 613-614-3280, [email protected]; Aditi Walsh, Communications Advisor, Canadian Natural Gas Vehicle Alliance, 613-564-0181, [email protected], www.cngva.ca