Members of the Kamloops Chamber of Commerce along with Fortis BC were on an alternative energy tour today on a bus powered by compressed natural gas.

The tour is hoping to promote the benefits of switching medium and heavy duty truck fleets from diesel to CNG.

Speaking on the NL morning news, Fortis BC’s Della Bond pointed out some of those advantages, “CNG has both economic and environmental benefits.”

“So, from an environmental standpoint you can reduce your emissions between twenty and thirty three percent.”

Bond pointed out it’s not just emissions that are reduced.

“There’s some great environmental benefits to it and also from an economic benefit you are saving between 25 to 50 percent on your fuel costs,” she said. “So you’re doing the right thing for the environment and you’re putting more money in your pocket which at the end of the day, businesses love.”

And she says officials are doing what they can to lessen the financial impact.

“Start up costs, yes there is an incremental cost to going from traditional diesel vehicle to CNG but Fortis has some great incentives and we’re working with our customers to make sure that we offset most of that incremental cost to transition.”

Among those who were scheduled to take the tour was Mayor of Kamloops along with Council members, and the Chief of Tk’emlups Indian Band, and the president & CEO of BC Transit.