TORONTO, Oct. 30 /CNW/ -

The province is helping Ontario businesses do their part to fight climate
change with an enhanced program to green commercial fleets.
Under the four-year, $15-million Green Commercial Vehicle Program,
companies can apply for grants to:

- Purchase hybrid and alternative-fuel vehicles
- Retrofit heavy-duty vehicles with anti-idling technologies.

The fuel savings data collected by the program will help encourage more
businesses to go green.
Applications for the program will be available November 28, 2008. The
program is retroactive to August 2007, the launch date of the Go Green Action
Plan. The plan includes ambitious targets for greenhouse gas reductions by the
freight transportation sector.

QUOTES
"Our Green Commercial Vehicle Program could take up to 40,000 tonnes of
greenhouse gas emissions out of our air every year. Helping big and small
companies to operate greener, more fuel-efficient vehicles will help us all
breathe a little easier," said Minister Jim Bradley.
"Helping businesses make the switch to fuel-efficient trucks will put
Ontario companies at the forefront of green innovation and reduce pollution,"
said Environment Minister John Gerretsen.

QUICK FACTS
- Reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 40,000 tonnes is equivalent to
taking about 8,000 cars off the road each year.

- Approximately 182,000 commercial vehicles operate in Ontario. Around
2,500 commercial vehicles are expected to be eligible for conversion
to hybrid and alternative fuels (natural gas and propane) and use
anti-idling technology.

LEARN MORE
Read about MoveOntario 2020, and Metrolinx's plan to transform transit in the Greater Golden Horseshoe area.
Learn more about Ontario's leadership in environmental technologies.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
ontario.ca/transportation-news
Disponible en français

For further information: Nicole Lippa-Gasparro, Minister's Office, (416) 327-1815; Bob Nichols, Communications Branch, (416) 327-1158