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“It’s massive. When we get our 450-bus facility fully populated with renewable natural gas, that’ll take us comfortably half-way to our 2050 emissions reduction (goals). We’d make huge strides in our emissions reductions just within five years.”

The city expects to save around $5 million a year with renewable natural gas compared to diesel once the entire 450-bus fleet is in operation.

A huge bus barn and maintenance facility currently under construction in the Stoney Industrial Area on 15th Street N.E. will house the CNG buses when it opens in early 2019. The new facility will also be able to support the city’s existing diesel fleet.

Within five years, Davies estimates the city could have a mixed fleet with around 40 per cent of buses powered by natural gas, 40 per cent by diesel, 15 per cent by gasoline and five per cent by electricity.

Calgary transit is carefully studying its options in the meantime.

Transit officials are currently eyeing different types of electric bus technology and a report is expected from administration in the next few months. Davies said he hopes transit will soon be in the position to launch a trial of 10 to 15 buses powered by electricity.

Testing of CNG buses has been underway for the last four years and the city is looking at trials for renewable diesel fuel later this year.

“What we’re doing is trying to see what’s the best way to make the most effective and environmentally friendly use of what we have,” Davies said.

Coun. Shane Keating, chair of the city’s transportation and transit committee, said he’s in favour of a mix of fuel sources powering transit, including electricity, so long as it’s accomplishing the goal of reducing costs and greenhouse gas emissions.

“It may not be (to) our advantage to go 100 per cent to either fuel source, depending on the need,” Keating said.

mpotkins@postmedia.com

Twitter: @mpotkins