FortisBC welcomes decision that will increase access to Renewable Natural Gas

Mar 20, 2024

SURREY, B.C.—March 20, 2024: Statement from Doug Slater, vice president, Indigenous relations and regulatory affairs:

We are pleased that the BC Utilities Commission (BCUC) has approved key elements of our Revised Renewable Natural Gas application, which will mean that all FortisBC natural gas customers will have a portion of their gas designated as Renewable Natural Gas¹ (RNG). The approval of this application marks a new era for British Columbians’ ability to access renewable and low-carbon energy.² It is also a step forward for FortisBC’s overall efforts to decarbonize the gas system, lower greenhouse gas emissions and help meet provincial CleanBC Roadmap targets while maintaining energy choice for customers.

The percentage of RNG that customers will benefit from is expected to increase over time as FortisBC acquires additional supply, thereby displacing equivalent volumes of conventional natural gas being used. Customers will not have to sign up for the program offering. RNG can be provided through existing infrastructure to deliver renewable and low-carbon gases to meet British Columbia’s future energy needs—decarbonizing the gas system overall. 

The BCUC has approved FortisBC to continue to provide RNG through the voluntary program. However, the BCUC did not approve our program to allow all new residential buildings connecting to our gas system to have 100 per cent of their gas designated as RNG. 

In addition, the BCUC accepted FortisBC’s Long-Term Gas Resource Plan, which outlines our plan to serve our customers’ energy needs, transition to a low-carbon energy future and support meeting provincial greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets. We are pleased with this decision as it confirms that the gas system will continue to play a key role in meeting the energy needs of British Columbians and lays the foundation for activities spanning the next 20 years.

We are reviewing these decisions and will provide an update in the coming weeks on what they mean for our customers and the timelines to implement.

In the meantime, visit the BCUC’s website to read the decisions and learn more about RNG by visiting fortisbc.com/rng.

¹Renewable Natural Gas (also called RNG or biomethane) is produced in a different manner than conventional natural gas. It is derived from biogas, which is produced from decomposing organic waste from landfills, agricultural waste and wastewater from treatment facilities. The biogas is captured and cleaned to create Renewable Natural Gas.

²FortisBC uses the term renewable and low-carbon gas to refer collectively to the low-carbon gases or fuels that the utility can acquire under the Greenhouse Gas Reduction (Clean Energy) Regulation, which are: Renewable Natural Gas (also called RNG or biomethane), hydrogen, synthesis gas (from wood waste) and lignin. FortisBC’s renewable and low-carbon gas portfolio currently includes only Renewable Natural Gas. Other gases and fuels may be added to the program over time. Depending on their source, all of these gases have differing levels of lifecycle carbon intensity. However, all of these gases are low carbon when compared to the lifecycle carbon intensity of conventional natural gas. The current burner tip emission factor of RNG is 0.29 grams of carbon dioxide equivalent per megajoule of energy (gCO₂e/MJ) and the current renewable and low-carbon gas portfolio lifecycle emissions are -22 gCO₂e/MJ. This is below B.C.’s carbon intensity threshold for low-carbon gases of 36.4 gCO₂e/MJ set out in the 2021 B.C. Hydrogen Strategy.

 

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