NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, Ont. – While the federal government’s popular rebate program for anti-idling devices such as auxiliary power units has been mothballed, there are still government incentives for environmental initiatives available to fleets.

That was the message from Lynda Harvey of Natural Resources Canada at the recent Private Motor Truck Council conference. Harvey explained there are two new funding programs for fleets looking to reduce their emissions – one for experimental technology and another for proven equipment. The Freight Technology Demonstration Fund has been established to help fleets cover the cost of testing technologies that have the potential to reduce emissions. The application deadline for round one of the program is Nov. 1, 2007 wither subsequent funding rounds concluding April, 2008, October, 2008 and April, 2009.

The government will pay up to 50% of the cost of testing new technologies to a maximum of $500,000 over a two-year period.

The Freight Technology Incentives program has $10 million to pass on to companies wanting to adopt new and under-utilized technologies that have proven to reduce emissions. Cost-shared funding is provided to help offset the cost of purchasing and installing the environmentally-friendly equipment.

Funds dispensed under the programs will be issued “on a proposal basis” and trucking “will compete with other modes,” Harvey explained. About 40% of the available funding is earmarked for the trucking industry, she added.

More information about both programs is available at: http://www.tc.gc.ca/programs/Environment/ecotransport/ecofreight.htm.