Airline teams up with Alberta's Clean Energy Technology Centre
(CETC)
CALGARY, April 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ - WestJet today
announced it has teamed up with Alberta-based, Clean Energy Technology Centre
(CETC) to accelerate the development of sustainable aviation
biofuel in Western Canada.
"WestJet's collaboration with the CETC is an exciting first step
in supporting the development and deployment of a sustainable fuel
alternative in Western Canada,"
said Geoffrey Tauvette, WestJet
Director, Environment and Fuel. "WestJet has already made
significant, demonstrable progress in our environmental commitment.
As an example, our fleet investment over the last 15 years has
improved our fuel efficiency by almost 50 per cent. The natural
next step for us was getting actively involved in tapping
Western Canada's innovation
potential in developing scalable, affordable and sustainable
aviation biofuels."
Aviation biofuels represent the biggest and best opportunity for
aviation to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The
focus now is developing sustainable sources to make the aviation
biofuel, which Alberta's
Drayton Valley has in abundance.
The location and proximity of Drayton
Valley can help solve many of the challenges that face the
development of the biofuel – namely finding an efficient and
economical way of getting fuel from production to aircraft. The
CETC itself is located in Drayton
Valley, home also to the "Bio Mile," an integrated
bio-industrial park with close proximity to forestry and oil and
gas industries whose infrastructure and human resources could
eventually support the development of the alternative fuel
source.
"We are excited to work with WestJet in these early stages and
looking forward to what the future holds for aviation biofuels in
Canada," said, Manny Deol, CETC Chief Operating Officer. "We
are extremely well positioned and we offer a full spectrum of
advantages to clean energy researchers, entrepreneurs and
innovators including location; ready access to feedstock;
transportation networks; academic partnerships in Alberta and Europe; and a supportive community."
"Drayton Valley's Clean Energy
Technology Centre is purpose-built to be an ideal complement with
WestJet in this important venture," said Glenn McLean, Drayton
Valley Mayor. "Working together, Town Council and the
Government of Alberta had the
foresight to see how this location and our local assets would
create a key hub for developing clean energy products and
solutions. Drayton Valley and the
CETC are ready to go. And we are ready to work with talented people
all across the biofuel supply chain to meet the ambitious challenge
set by WestJet."
About WestJet
We are proud to be Canada's highest-rated airline for customer
service, powered by an award-winning culture of care and recognized
as one of the country's top employers. We offer scheduled service
to 100 destinations in North
America, Central America,
the Caribbean and Europe. Through our regional airline, WestJet
Encore, and with partnerships with airlines representing every
major region of the world, we offer our guests more than 150
destinations in more than 20 countries. Leveraging WestJet's
extensive network, flight schedule and remarkable guest experience,
WestJet Vacations delivers affordable, flexible travel experiences
with a variety of accommodation options for every guest. Members of
our WestJet Rewards program earn WestJet dollars on flights,
vacation packages and more. Our members use WestJet dollars towards
the purchase of WestJet flights and vacations packages on any day,
at any time, to any WestJet destination with no blackout
periods ̶ even on seat sales. For more information
about everything WestJet, please visit westjet.com.
Recent recognition
includes:
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(Waterstone Human Capital)
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(Aon Hewitt)
2015/2014/2013 WestJet RBC World Elite MasterCard ranked #1 in
Canada (MoneySense magazine)
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Canada's Choice ranking
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2014 Interbrand Canada's Best Canadian Brands (Rank #20)
2014 Brands of the Year (Strategy magazine)
2014 Canada's Most Preferred
Airline (Ipsos)
2014 Value Airline of the Year (Air Transport World magazine)
2014/2013/2012 Canada's Most
Attractive Employer (Randstad)
2014/2013/2012/2011 Highest equity score: airline, vacation package
supplier brands (Harris/Decima EquiTrend Study)
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