FortisBC teams with Regional District of Fraser-Fort George to produce carbon neutral natural gas

Regional District will become one of the first Renewable Natural Gas producers from Northern BC

SURREY, BC, June 1, 2022 /CNW/ - FortisBC Energy Inc. ("FortisBC") will produce Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) from its first project in Northern BC, teaming up with the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George to produce RNG from landfill gas generated at the Foothills Boulevard Regional Landfill, located in Prince George. FortisBC expects to produce approximately 90,000 gigajoules of RNG a year from this project over its 20-year contract, starting 2024. This is enough energy to meet the annual natural gas needs of approximately 1,000 homes in BC.

"Governments and industry need to work together with our customers to advance a lower carbon future, and partnerships like this one with the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George are exactly how we're going to get there," said Joe Mazza, vice-president, energy supply and resource development at FortisBC. "Northern BC has a rich history developing gas resources, and we're excited to embark on a new chapter of gas production with a region that has always been a leader in providing energy for British Columbians."

When bacteria break down organic waste from sources such as landfill sites, agricultural waste and wastewater from treatment facilities, it produces a biogas mostly made of methane. FortisBC works with local farms, landfills, green energy companies and municipalities to capture and purify this methane, which would otherwise escape into the atmosphere, to create RNG for its customers. As it's derived from organic sources, RNG does not contribute any net carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. It also mixes seamlessly into existing natural gas infrastructure, displacing conventional natural gas and lowering greenhouse gas emissions as a result.

Since 2002, the Regional District has operated a landfill gas collection system to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the capture and flaring of landfill gas, converting it from methane to carbon dioxide and water. The system is regularly updated and expanded to improve collection efficiency. 

"The Regional District of Fraser-Fort George is excited to work in partnership with FortisBC," says Board Chair Art Kaehn. "With this partnership and the ongoing active management of the system, we are providing a renewable energy source that is environmentally responsible and readily available," says Kaehn.

"Renewable and low carbon gases such as RNG are crucial in helping the provincial government achieve the goals in is CleanBC Roadmap," said Mazza. "The CleanBC Roadmap reaffirms that FortisBC's gas system will continue to play a role in decarbonization and accelerate the transition towards renewable and low carbon energy, including carbon neutral RNG and hydrogen."

FortisBC continues to exponentially increase the amount of RNG it delivers to its customers. In 2022, FortisBC expects to more than triple its RNG supply to a projected 3.9 million gigajoules. FortisBC's vision is to have roughly 75 per cent of its total gas supply be renewable or low carbon by 2050. The energy solutions provider expects to have 16 million gigajoules of RNG in its system, with contracts in place for another 8 million gigajoules, by 2025. Together, that would be enough energy to meet the natural gas needs of around 267,000 homes in BC.

FortisBC uses the term renewable and low carbon gas to refer collectively to the low carbon and carbon neutral gases or fuels that the utility can acquire under the Greenhouse Gas Reduction (Clean Energy) Regulation, which are: Renewable Natural Gas (RNG or biomethane), hydrogen, synthesis gas (from wood waste) and lignin. Depending on their source, all of these gases have differing levels of lifecycle carbon intensity. All gases would meet the proposed B.C. carbon intensity threshold for low-carbon gases of 36.4 g CO2e per megajoule set out in the 2021 B.C. Hydrogen Strategy.

About FortisBC Energy Inc.

FortisBC Energy Inc. is a regulated utility focused on providing safe and reliable energy, including natural gas, renewable gas and propane. FortisBC Energy Inc. employs more than 1,900 British Columbians and serves approximately 1,054,097 customers across British Columbia. FortisBC Energy Inc. owns and operates approximately 50,182 kilometres of natural gas transmission and distribution pipelines. FortisBC Energy Inc. is a subsidiary of Fortis Inc., a leader in the North American regulated electric and gas utility industry. FortisBC Energy Inc. uses the FortisBC name and logo under license from Fortis Inc. For further information on FortisBC, visit www.fortisbc.com. For further information on Fortis Inc., visit www.fortisinc.com.

About Regional District of Fraser-Fort George.

The Regional District of Fraser-Fort George is home to over 94,000 residents and covers 52,000 km2 in central BC, extending from the Pine Pass in the north to Hixon in the south, and from Bednesti Lake west to the Alberta border. It includes the municipalities of Prince George, Mackenzie, McBride and Valemount along with seven unincorporated Electoral Areas. Services provided include fire protection, 9-1-1 emergency services, solid waste management, community sewer and water systems, land use planning, cultural and recreational services and parks.

SOURCE FortisBC Energy Inc.

MEDIA CONTACT: Jas Baweja, Corporate Communications Specialist, FortisBC, Phone: [phone], Email: [email protected], fortisbc.com, 24-hour media line: 1-855-322-6397; Renee McCloskey, Manager of External Relations, Regional District of Fraser-Fort George, Phone [phone], Email [email protected]