Natural gas pact provides win-win for B.C.’s needs

Val Litwin sees economy, environment in harmony.

In B.C., we maintain a nimble balancing act. Our province is home to breathtaking natural wonders that make this one of the most beautiful places in the world. We’re also home to a diverse economy that makes this one of the best places to live and work in the world.

Since we’re achieving this balance, it’s crucial, when governments encourage green initiatives, they allow local businesses to stay competitive in the global marketplace, and not saddle them with extra costs and restrictions.

That’s why it’s so encouraging to see the new agreement between the City of Vancouver and FortisBC.

They’re committing to work together to promote energy efficiency, reduce emissions, and encourage renewable energy in the city.

It’s a deal that shows, through thoughtful intention, harmony can be found between the economy and climate action.

With this agreement, the city is signalling it’s willing to work with businesses like FortisBC to support energy choices that are affordable, clean, safe and reliable.

This deal provides a framework to explore future collaboration, including new investments in renewable energy, as well as natural gas infrastructure and improvements.

Outside of B.C., natural gas is becoming a cornerstone of renewable energy systems. This agreement recognizes that potential.

Through this deal, FortisBC is also bringing significant investments to the table. The company will offer incentives to encourage businesses to boost their energy efficiency and is looking to invest in new supplies of low-carbon renewable energy. By working with the city, they’re making sure to maximize the bang for their buck.

So what does this deal mean for business? Well, if you’re a Vancouver business owner you can save money when you upgrade old appliances using energy rebates. If you’re in construction, the city is tweaking its building policy to make it more consistent with policies across the province.

Consistent policy lets builders build and not get mired managing inconsistent regulations. The streamlined policy also frees them up to pursue money-saving incentives on multi-family buildings. When builders save money it can also improve housing affordability, a significant benefit in a pricey city like Vancouver.

The ripple effects from this agreement will be big, but many people won’t notice it right away. New homes will still feature energy efficient natural gas appliances.

Vancouver’s world-class restaurants will still serve up their diverse dishes on natural gas stoves. Diners will still eat outside during the colder months thanks to natural gas-fuelled patio heaters.

By securing a future for natural gas in Vancouver and avoiding the stigma of a de facto ban, B.C. can pursue breakthroughs in energy use. It also allows us to seed one of the most fertile areas for innovation and growth — natural gas for transportation.

The B.C. Chamber of Commerce is a longtime supporter of accelerating the use of liquefied natural gas and compressed natural gas for transportation. It’s one of the best uses of B.C.’s vast natural gas resources in the current challenging market for exports. Not only that, natural gas for transportation can be a significant job creator.

Now, the City of Vancouver and FortisBC are exploring, together, opportunities for expanding access to a compressed natural gas fuelling station for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. Switching our vehicles to natural gas can result in significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, and position B.C. as a leader in energy innovation.

Not only will the city and FortisBC identify new uses for Renewable Natural Gas — carbonneutral methane derived from agricultural and landfill waste — they will look for opportunities to team up on a project to generate energy at the Vancouver Landfill.

By working together, the city and FortisBC can find ways to increase the use of renewable natural gas in Vancouver, while also identifying new sources of supply to satisfy growing demand.

All of this is possible because the City of Vancouver, FortisBC, and other groups came together to develop a solution that balances economic and environmental considerations. This agreement paves the way for B.C.’s businesses, government, and the local community to take unified action to safeguard B.C.’s economic future while fostering climate action.