FortisBC is continuing its plans to move towards its CleanBC goal through several initiatives, one of which made its way before Penticton’s council on March 1.
The energy provider has proposed to ensure that all future new homes built in the city would be hooked up to renewable natural gas.
Renewable natural gas, although currently costing higher in rates compared to regular natural gas, is still less expensive compared to hydro-electricity, and it can be generated through a variety of sources such as wood waste or from facilities located at landfills.
Among the landfills where Fortis has established natural gas facilities is Glenmore Landfill in Kelowna, which uses a methane capture system instead of the flare to burn off the gas.
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Coun. Julius Bloomfield expressed his curiosity over the process there, as he noted that in discussions at the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen that there had been discussions around methane capture efforts at RDOS landfills.
Fortis also has a volunteer program where people can ask to have a percentage or all of their natural gas supply be replaced with renewable gas.
As more facilities come online and supply increases, another plan is to move towards full renewable gas, with at least one per cent of renewable gas being introduced to all customers by 2024, which according to Fortis would equal the carbon savings of having 30,000 furnaces converted to electricity.
Council accepted the presentation and requested for additional information before they make a decision on the proposal.
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