Freight Technology Incentive Program

The Freight Technology Incentive Program provides cost-shared funding to support the purchase and installation of proven technologies throughout the freight transportation system that can reduce the amount of fuel consumed and the emission of air pollutants and greenhouse gases (GHG).

Under the ecoTRANSPORT strategy, approximately $10 million has been allocated over four years to fund projects from all modes of freight transportation (road, rail, air, marine and intermodal).

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible applicants are Canadian and non-Canadian private enterprises, including non-profit* organizations, that operate freight transportation in Canada using any of the four modes of freight transportation (air, marine, rail and road), including:

• air carriers;
• rail carriers;
• trucking companies;
• marine carriers;
• eligible port and airport facilities.

Note: Governmental organizations are not eligible for funding; however, they could provide financial and other support to an eligible applicant.

Eligible Activities

Projects to purchase emission reducing technologies and equipment have to target freight transportation. Freight transportation refers to the movement of goods within and/or between cities, provinces and countries, within one mode and/or across modes.

Ineligible Projects

• projects where benefits do not accrue in Canada;
• projects that have been physically initiated or completed at the time of application; and
• non-freight related projects.

Summary

The primary objectives of the Freight Technology Incentive Program are to:

• reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the freight transportation sector;
• stimulate the purchase of emission reducing technologies and equipment for increasing the sustainability of Canada's transportation system; and
• realize measurable environmental benefits.

What funding is available?
The Freight Technology Incentive Program will fund each approved project 50% of eligible costs up to a total of $500,000 over two years. If other federal assistance is obtained, total federal funding cannot exceed 50% of total project costs.

What expenses are eligible?
Eligible project expenses are costs directly attributable to the purchase of equipment, technologies and material, and their installation. These may include, but are not limited to:

• costs associated with project environmental assessment;
• training costs for the operation of the equipment, technologies and material; and
• salary costs associated with the project implementation.

What expenses are ineligible?
Ineligible expenses include, but are not limited to:

• provincial sales tax and GST for which the recipient is eligible to receive a tax rebate, and any other costs eligible for rebates;
• cost of purchasing land, associated real estate and other fees, financing charges and interest payments on loans;
• salaries for regular staff and day-to-day operational costs;
• research and development of technology prototypes.

For more information on programs and services related to sustainable transportation, see the following documents:

• CANMET Energy Technology Centre - Ottawa (CETC-O)
• Moving on Sustainable Transportation Program (MOST)
• CANMET Materials Technology Laboratory (CANMET-MTL)
• Transportation Energy Technologies - TRANSET

Deadline
Applications are accepted through a series of funding rounds held over the duration of the program, April 1sr, 2007 until March 31st, 2011. The next application deadline is April 1st, 2008.

• Round 1 - November 1st, 2007
• Round 2 - April 1st, 2008
• Round 3 - October 1st, 2008
• Round 4 - April 1st, 2009

To apply for the program, proponents must complete the application form and submit it to the program secretariat before the deadline.

*Note: "non-profit" also known as nonprofit organizations, non profit organizations, not-for-profit organizations, voluntary organizations and volunteer organizations.

New Brunswick Contact(s):
See National Contact.

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National Contact(s):
ecoFREIGHT Program
Environmental Initiatives
Transport Canada
Place de Ville, Tower C (AHEC)
330 Sparks Street
Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 0N5
Telephone: 613-991-1196
Fax: 613-949-3874
TTY Toll-free (hearing impaired): 1-888-675-6863
E-mail: ecofreight-ecomarchandises@tc.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.tc.gc.ca/en/menu.htm