The following letter to the editor was published in ten community daily newspapers in June 2007:

CNGVA Supports Low Carbon Fuel Standard Announcements in Ontario and British Columbia

I read with interest the recent column that made reference to the agreement signed by two Canadian provinces to adhere to California's low carbon fuel standards.
A commitment to a Low Carbon Fuel Standard is good news for lower carbon transportation alternatives. Natural gas is a lower carbon fossil fuel. Its use in vehicles reduces greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 20 per cent, with air quality benefits. Natural gas vehicle technologies are proven and there are many companies (mostly small- and medium-sized businesses) involved in the natural gas vehicle industry in Canada.
There are also renewable sources of natural gas. Biomethane produced from landfill gas and biomass can be used in conventional natural gas vehicles. Sweden currently has more than half of its natural gas vehicles operating on biomethane, including transit, trash and passenger vehicles.
Natural gas vehicles are a market-based solution that can reduce the environmental impact of transportation. In southern California, half of all transit buses are fuelled by natural gas and many of these buses incorporate Canadian bus, engine, and fuel storage technology. We applaud the provinces' actions. Natural gas vehicles can help Canada meet both low carbon transportation and cleaner air goals.

Alicia Milner
President
Canadian Natural Gas Vehicle Alliance
Ottawa