Alberta is investing $100 million to fund 16 clean tech transportation projects

The Government of Alberta has announced that it will be investing $100 million in green transportation projects throughout the province.

A release from the provincial government states that 16 new clean technology projects will receive funding from the Emissions Reduction Alberta Biotechnology, Electricity, and Sustainable Transportation (BEST) challenge — a $100 million fund aiming to change the way transportation in Alberta affects the environment.

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The announcement marks the largest challenge that ERA has ever conducted, with the total combined value of the 16 projects coming in at $600 million and a total reduction of 2.5 million in greenhouse gas emissions expected by 2030 as a result.

“Our BEST Challenge is about accelerating the most promising clean technology solutions across multiple sectors – from new solar opportunities in coal-impacted communities to efficient fleet solutions,” said Emissions Reduction Alberta CEO, Steve MacDonald, in the release.

“These projects will be a showcase for innovative technologies that can be adopted in communities across Alberta. They support economic growth, community health and demonstrate environmental leadership on a national and global scale.”

The total reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from the 16 projects is the equivalent of taking 530,700 cars off the road, according to the release, and will result in 114 new jobs throughout Alberta.

One of the projects, run by the Alberta Motor Transport Association (AMTA), is working to move freight on Alberta’s highways without producing any emissions by developing a 700-km-plus-range electric truck.

“Alberta is in the transportation fuel business, and that business is changing,” said Alberta Motor Transport Association president Chris Nash in the release.

“The AZETEC project demonstrates that Alberta’s commercial transportation industry is leading the transition towards innovative, zero-emission transportation that meets the province’s unique needs.”

Another of the 16 projects aims to transition buses in the province from diesel to electric, with a new charging system having the potential to lower installation and operating costs once fully implemented.

A full list of the BEST Challenge projects can be found here.