CIPMA, along with industry partners, have been advocating to the Federal Government for funding for renewable fuel infrastructure at the retail outlets and terminals. These funds would be used to upgrade equipment to accommodate higher renewable fuel blends (think E15 – E25), in line with increasing government mandates and consumer demand for cleaner fuels.
service to carry this industry forward, and make sure it remains nimble, adaptive and iterative – much like the entrepreneurs who are at the helm of their organizations.
Funding for the equipment needed to handle higher renewable fuel blends would greatly alleviate a significant hurdle for many independent retail outlets to offer this product.
For our members and allied sector associations, being a part of the climate change solution means developing innovative, affordable, and reliable low-carbon clean energy retail options for consumers. That is why CIMPA is a founding partner of an organization that will launch later this year, called the Canadian Transportation Alliance (CTA).
Being a part of the ‘green economy’ narrative Since the last federal election, an ongoing awkward tension has persisted between a government steadfast in its commitment to climate change and meeting net-zero by 2050 and the oil and gas sector seemingly perceived to be at odds with this goal. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Politicians looking to make inroads in energy rich provinces will need to extend olive branches and companies looking to create new jobs for Canadians post-pandemic will need to play ball on advancing the sustainability agenda. While practicality will likely win the day, fuel retailers need to speak to proof points that their paths to environmental sustainability are already well laid. Retailers have a particular story to tell – as an essential service to Canadians during this pandemic, they have insights and lessons to share. They have adapted their business models in an ever-changing market while pursuing opportunities for greater innovation at fuel retail sites to help improve our industry’s environmental and sustainability impacts as our industry does its part to work towards net-zero by 2050.
Opportunities to collaborate with cross-sector stakeholders on the future of the transportation sector is good business for retailers.
This group will operate as an impartial and independent, not-for-profit organization, drawing on the expertise of a diverse member-base of ‘transportation’ related organizations from sectors including but not limited to, electric, renewable fuels, vehicle manufacturers, refining, hydrogen, academia, and Indigenous groups. The CTA will commission third-party, innovative research on issues that will impact the sector for years to come. The goal of the alliance is simple — provide objective research on emerging issues so that decisions can be made soundly. To have skin in the game, the downstream sector needs to show it’s looking towards an innovative future, not protecting the status-quo.
The downstream sector has been responsive to the shift – they see the writing on the wall and understand that while consumer buying habits may not have shifted entirely in a new direction, their attitudes and desire to do so over time have. They have been willing contributors to the climate change discussion – engaging in the Federal Government’s Clean Fuel Standards development; aligning with provincial and territorial governments on biofuel blending; and introducing electronic vehicle charging stations at retail sites. Retailers have an eye on the trends and understand the realities of the consumer market and what their habits might mean for clean growth business models of the future. Research and Cross-Sector Collaboration We’re at a point in time where we need more than lip
Canadian Independent Petroleum Marketers Association | Connection 2021 |
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