Ride the Wind

Commencing 2001 September 1, Calgary Transit entered into a partnership with ENMAX and Vision Quest Windelectric Inc. to develop a program (Ride the Wind) that uses wind-generated electricity to power the CTrains.

There are 12 windmills located in Southern Alberta that generate the wind-power. The equivalent amount of power used by the CTrain is sent to the main power grid. The windmills generate this power.

Although the CTrain itself does not produce CO2 emissions, the supply of electricity used for CTrain traction power used to originate from coal or natural gas powered facilities that do produce greenhouse gases. Using wind-generated power currently reduces CO2 emissions by approximately 46,000 tonnes annually. As the CTrain lines are extended, the savings in emissions will also increase.

It is expected that the "Ride the Wind" program will increase power costs by less than one-half of one cent per passenger.

Awards
Since the implementation of the Ride the Wind! initiative in the latter part of 2001, Calgary Transit has been the proud winner of two prestigious awards.

In 2001 Calgary Transit won a Federation of Canadian Municipalities CH2M HILL Sustainable Community Award for its leadership in renewable energy.

Most recently, Calgary Transit was the recipient of a 2001 Pollution Prevention Award in the innovations category. The award is presented by the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment.

The CTrain is now 100 per cent emissions free. It is the first public Light Rail Transit system in North America to power its train fleet with wind-generated electricity.