Sec. Rick Sullivan, CEO Alicia Barton, XL Hybrid’s Justin Ashton and Canadian Linen & Uniform Service’s Anthony Coulter stand next to an electric Chevy Express 2500 cargo van fitted with XL Hybrids’ post-transmission parallel hybrid powertrain.
Massachusetts Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rick Sullivan and Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) CEO Alicia Barton recently met with Massachusetts-based clean energy companies during the Canada Wind Energy Association (CanWEA) conference to promote the Commonwealth’s growing clean energy sector as part of a four-day trade mission to Canada led by Governor Deval Patrick.
The Massachusetts – Canada Innovation Partnership Mission is a mission to strengthen the state’s partnership with Canada and expand business opportunities between the two countries in the clean-tech, innovation, digital health, financial services, digital gaming, life sciences and academic sectors.
“We’re proud to support the Massachusetts companies doing business in Canada,” said Secretary Sullivan. “With our mutual goals of combating climate change and shifting our focus to renewable sources of energy and by strengthening the ties between our two economies, Massachusetts and Canada can work together to leave a clean energy legacy for the next generation.”
Representatives of Boston-based XL Hybrids traveled to Toronto as part of the trade mission to mark its new partnership with Canadian Linen, which purchased its first hybrid systems from XL Hybrids in August 2013 and represents XL Hybrids’ first Canadian customer. Founded in 2009, XL Hybrids develops hybrid technology to retrofit commercial vehicle fleets designed to decrease fuel use in city driving by 20 percent.
“Massachusetts is home to 5,500 clean energy firms that are busy bringing their goods and services to marketplaces worldwide, like Canada,” said CEO Barton. “Our clean energy sector is booming with an 11.8 percent job growth this year and Canada is the ideal market for our companies to expand.”
“Canadian Linen and AmeriPride operate a world-class uniform and linen company industry in North America, and XL Hybrids will help them save money and achieve their sustainability objectives,” said Justin Ashton, vice president of business development at XL Hybrids. “With the delivery of the Canadian Linen hybrid vans, our technology is available across Canada as a ship-thru option, which will help fleet managers reduce operating expenses in a region with higher fuel costs.”
“This hybrid pilot program is part of a larger company initiative to reduce energy consumption and our carbon footprint,” said Naiem Nairouz, senior vice president of Canadian operations at Canadian Linen. “As a leader in the industry, we feel it’s our responsibility to consider and pilot programs using alternative fuel options and support the advancement of these new technologies. In addition, we hope it will reduce our fuel costs and lower our exposure to fuel price rate increases.”
Also during the event, Massachusetts-based clean energy company Vertex Environmental announced the company would open a 4,000 square-foot office outside of Toronto next week. The Weymouth-based company provides services for building energy efficiency, solar and wind projects in the United States and in 47 countries across the world.
“We’re excited about our expansion into Canada and we look forward to solidifying our North American capabilities with this new venture,” said Vertex Environmental CEO James B. O’Brien.
From October 8 through 11, Governor Patrick is leading a delegation of the Commonwealth’s government leaders on the Massachusetts-Canada Innovation Partnership Mission, which includes stops in Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal. Canada is the Commonwealth’s largest export partner. Last year, Massachusetts exported approximately $3.5 billion in goods and services to Canada, and the two-way exchange was $11.1 billion in 2012. Approximately 20,000 Massachusetts residents work for Canadian-owned companies and over 160,000 jobs in the Commonwealth are dependent on trade with Canada. The Institute of International Education reported that in 2012 over 2,200 Canadian students attended Massachusetts colleges and universities – representing the 4th largest contingent of international students in the Commonwealth.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
www.mass.gov/eea
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