A first-of-its-kind proposal boosts renewable energy efforts
With a first-of-its-kind proposal in North America, FortisBC is asking the British Columbia Utilities Commission to approve a plan that would ensure every newly constructed home connecting to the gas system would automatically receive 100% renewable natural gas for the life span of the building.
“If approved, this would give every British Columbian a choice on how best to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from their new home,” Joe Mazza, vice president of energy supply and resource development at FortisBC, said in a news release, adding, “We’re excited about the prospect of a new generation of FortisBC customers knowing us as a renewable energy provider.”
The application also proposes that existing residential natural gas customers would automatically receive a small percentage of renewable and low-carbon gas as part of their natural gas supply by 2024, with intent to see the amount steadily increase over time, the utility told American Gas.
FortisBC has made this initiative possible by significantly increasing the amount of RNG in its natural gas system. In 2021, the utility increased annual RNG supply by 184% compared to 2020, which is the largest annual delivery in program history to date. In 2022, FortisBC forecasts its RNG supply to triple compared to 2021, it said.
Renewable and low-carbon gases, such as RNG, are viable options for customers to affordably reduce their environmental footprint. For newly constructed homes, this allows homeowners to enjoy the benefits of gas for home heating and cooking without compromising on reducing their carbon footprint, according to the utility.
“We see the potential for renewable gases, like RNG, to accelerate the goals of the government’s CleanBC Roadmap in an innovative and affordable way by using an existing system that moves and stores energy incredibly well,” Mazza said.
