Joe Mazza, Fortis BC
BRITISH COLUMBIA – FortisBC Energy Inc. has submitted its 2026 long-term gas resource plan to the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC), and it includes projects like the Hartland Landfill RNG (Renewable Natural Gas) plant in Victoria, the Eagle Mountain – Woodfibre Gas Pipeline Project in Squamish, the Okanagan Capacity Mitigation Project in Kelowna, and the Tilbury liquefied natural gas storage expansion project in Delta.
If its plan is accepted by the BCUC, FortisBC projects making additional investments in energy conservation programs to help customers save energy and expand its supply of lower carbon gases, including RNG and, potentially in the future, hydrogen. These initiatives would be aligned with provincial climate action goals and help reduce overall emissions. The investments would build on the current 2022 long-term resource plan, under which FortisBC is investing $694.8 million between 2024 and 2027 in energy-efficiency programs and working to reduce overall emissions by acquiring more lower carbon gases like RNG.
“Our gas system plays a critical role in meeting the growing energy needs of our customers,” says Joe Mazza, vice president, energy supply and resource development. “This is our long-term plan to provide customers with affordable and reliable energy while continuing to support provincial climate action goals. This plan will guide our future investments to help meet these goals.”
To ensure the long-term gas resource plan reflects the needs and values of FortisBC’s customers and the communities it serves, FortisBC engaged with technical working groups representing the interests of customers, Indigenous communities, associations, builders, developers, environmental organizations, provincial and local governments and other interested parties over two years. The feedback FortisBC heard highlighted the need to consider affordability, reliability and resilience of the gas system, and supporting provincial climate goals in its plan to meet customers’ future energy needs.
The BCUC will review FortisBC’s proposed long-term gas resource plan, which will include opportunities for input from the public and interested parties.
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