A Canadian solution to scrap tie disposal
Published: November 9, 2007
Source: CP Rail
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On Thursday, Canadian Pacific hosted leaders of the Aboriginal Cogeneration Corporation (ACC) for the official signing of an agreement that offers a new Canadian solution to CP's need for disposal of scrap railway cross ties.

Through this new program, the scrap ties will be converted to useable energy through a process called gasification. In turn, this creates a combustible gas which is used to operate an electrical generator which feeds electrical power into existing power transmission grids. Compared to conventional burning methods, the plant is designed to gasify any biomass waste products, and through the process, create useable energy, while, at the same time, reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

By spring 2008, the ACC will be operating its first gasification plant, located in Ashcroft, British Columbia. This location is ideal to Canadian Pacific's operations as it will further decrease the railway's carbon footprint by reducing transportation time to dispose of scrap ties.

"Canadian Pacific has been in talks with the ACC since 2005 and is the first Class I railway to commit to this effective, economical, and environmentally safe solution," said Kim Sigurdson, President of the ACC.

"ACC is pleased that our relationship with Canadian Pacific has led to this agreement, one which will see 250,000 scrap ties a year disposed of at our facility, as well as bring employment opportunities and economical benefits to aboriginal communities," said Bill Montour, Board Chairman of the ACC.

"This is a win-win agreement for Canadian Pacific," said Fred Green, President & CEO for CP. "We wholeheartedly support our role in a project that allows us to utilize this ecologically-responsible company. The ACC's mandate aligns with CP's commitment to the First Nation communities we operate in, as well as our environmental sustainability initiatives."

The ACC's small-footprint gasification plant range in size from 10-kW to 1-MW power production. They are packaged to meet the strictest environmental requirements and permits. Future plants locations are being considered to assist in further reducing our carbon footprint.