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Alternative fuel study part of effort to lower GHG emissions

As part of its commitment to the Kyoto Protocol, Whistler is looking at new ways to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions through an alternative fuel study.

As part of its commitment to the Kyoto Protocol, Whistler is looking at new ways to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions through an alternative fuel study.

The study will look at alternative fuels like hydrogen, natural gas and biodiesel, and identify the best fuels for use in Whistler. The study will also describe an implementation plan for the resort.

Brian Barnett, general manager of public works and engineering at the municipality, said the study would first focus on cars and trucks in the municipal fleet, along with the transit buses and all Whistler-Blackcomb vehicles.

"It targets those specific areas and then from that we intend to expand it to other vehicles," he said.

"Hopefully the other vehicles that would fairly quickly follow suit would be things like the hotel shuttles, delivery vehicles, that kind of thing.

"The market for alternative fuels is really in its infancy right now."

There are certain factors in Whistler which will dictate the preferred fuel to be used here.

"What may work in Vancouver may not work in Whistler," said Barnett, using natural gas as an example to illustrate his point.

In Vancouver there are many natural gas pumps at gas stations making it easy for vehicles to run on that fuel in the city. Whistler does not have that luxury.

"In Whistler we don’t have any natural gas at all in the community so it just wouldn’t work," said Barnett.

"We’d have to build an entire natural gas infrastructure here."

But natural gas as an alternative fuel has a plus.

It can be used in existing engines with little or no modifications. The same is true for biodiesel fuel.

On the other hand, hydrogen gas or fuel cells generally need a whole new vehicle or system to run.

All these factors must be considered in the study.

Monitoring data shows air quality in the Whistler area is generally good but that could be reversed according to the changes in emissions, topography and climate.

A study of ozone in Whistler’s air shows it to be approaching levels similar to the Lower Mainland.

Barnett said that in itself is not alarming because the Lower Mainland has other smog related issues that Whistler doesn’t have and ozone isn’t a major concern there so it’s not a major concern in Whistler.

But the ozone levels could be raising warning flags about air quality in the valley.

"It’s just one of those indicators that we’re paying attention to because it’s telling us that if vehicle emissions continue to grow then air quality will continue to deteriorate," he added.

The alternative fuel study is in keeping with council’s direction on climate change. In 1997 council passed a resolution supporting the Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement aimed at reducing harmful GHG emissions which cause global warming.

With that resolution council committed to a 20 per cent reduction in its own GHG emissions from municipal operations as well as a six per cent reduction for the entire community below the 1990 levels.

The goal is to reach those reductions by 2007, ten years after Whistler’s commitment to Kyoto.

Roughly half of all GHG emissions in the resort can be traced back to the transportation sector. If the municipality did nothing about it, that number would surely rise as more and more visitors are expected to travel to Whistler by car or bus.

Alternative fuel transportation could make a serious dent in the overall GHG emissions.

"It’s by far the most effective way (of lowering emissions)," said Barnett.

Once the alternative fuel study is complete, the municipality would like to test the pilot project as soon as possible, with a goal of implementing a full-scale program before the 2010 Olympic Games.

"That’s a self-imposed deadline," said Barnett.

"It’s a natural goal to get a fleet of vehicles out on the street that would showcase new technology or new product.

"Additionally what it does is provide incentive to the private sector to come forward and get a new fuel or new technology in place so that they can get the recognition for their product or system."

He added that there’s major interest in the project already because of the 2010 recognition.

Methanex Corporation, a company involved in alternative fuel research, has joined the municipality, along with the Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection, B.C. Transit and Whistler-Blackcomb, in partnership for the study.

Currently as planned there is no cost to the municipality for the study.

The municipality put out a proposal call for companies interested in looking at alternative fuels and technologies a few weeks ago. To date six companies have expressed an interest in the study and the municipality has extended the deadline for expressions of interest until Sept. 12.

Based on the submissions Barnett will select some qualified consultants to bid on the project.

A rough timeline would see the report completed by the end of the year.

In the meantime, the municipality is encouraging residents to get out of their cars and onto the bus or biking, walking and car pooling in the 2003 Commuter Challenge which set to begin on Wednesday, Sept. 17. It’s just one more way to address GHG emissions in Whistler.