Public statement: FortisBC supports opportunities for both gas and electric systems to deliver low-carbon energy

May 4, 2021

SURREY, BC, May 4, 2021 – A recent article published by E&E News spoke to a working group of the Energy Solutions Center and shared a presentation slide which listed FortisBC as a member. While FortisBC has been a member of the Energy Solutions Center for several years and has participated in various working groups, the presentation was not made by FortisBC, not attended by FortisBC, and it does not accurately reflect our position on electrification.

As a utility with both gas and electric infrastructure, FortisBC sees an important role for both the gas and electric systems to deliver lower carbon energy to British Columbians. We believe a cleaner future is not an either/or scenario when it comes to energy – it’s ‘all of the above’. We see gas and electric infrastructures as complementary and having two high performing systems provides greater flexibility in energy options, greater reliability and resiliency and allows the right energy to be used in the right application.

We see opportunities for both gas and electric systems to deliver low-carbon energy that allow customers to make choices that can reduce their emissions affordably. Recently, we worked with Guidehouse, an international energy and environmental consultancy, to develop a study on alternate approaches to an 80 per cent emissions reduction by 2050 – one based primarily on electrification, and the other following a diversified pathway, using the electric and gas systems together. We have shared these results with government and industry and those conversations are helping BC find new ways forward.

Both gas and electric systems play key roles in our 30BY30 target – our goal to reduce customers' greenhouse gas emissions by 30 per cent by 2030. This will be done through increasing our supply of renewable gases, investing in low and no carbon transportation, supporting electric vehicle (EV) adoption through growing charging infrastructure, boosting our investment in energy conservation and efficiency and investing in liquefied natural gas to replace higher polluting fuels here in BC, in the marine industry and overseas.

For more information on our 30BY30 target, visit: fortisbc.com/30BY30.

 

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