A pair of FortisBC subsidiaries said Thursday it helped British Columbians “avoid” 776,000 tonnes of CO2 under provincial plans to cut emissions 40% by 2030, including converting BC Ferries to LNG..In a news release, FortisBC — along with its FortisBC Energy unit — said the number is the equivalent of removing 238,000 gasoline powered cars from local roadways and sets a new high water mark since it began tracking emissions in 2020, marking a 34% improvement since 2021..Specifically, the company said it's reducing emissions by increasing the supply of renewable, low carbon gases, investing in low and zero-emission transportation and converting the BC Ferries fleet to LNG. The company said it continues to make good progress on reducing emissions 40% below 2007 levels by 2030.. Fortis’ integrated energy strategyFortis’ integrated energy strategy summed in a graphic. .Over half the avoided emissions in 2022 were through enabling customers to switch from high carbon heating fuels, like heating oil, to gas. Those, along with energy efficiency measures through FortisBC's rebate, incentive and pilot programs, covered everything from high-efficiency furnaces to deep energy retrofits. .The company said it spent a record $118 million through those programs to help customers reduce energy consumption and save money on their monthly bills. Moving forward, increased emphasis will be placed on exploring a new generation of energy saving technologies like gas-electric hybrid heating systems, it added..Increasing the supply of renewable natural gas (RNG) — methane generated from landfills, wastewater facilities and livestock manure — kicked in approximately 208,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalents in 2022. .Presently, 13 suppliers are providing FortisBC with RNG; another 20 have signed supply contracts and are expected to come online throughout 2023 and 2024. .Greenhouse gas reductions associated with lower carbon transportation fuels from higher-carbon options like gasoline or diesel contributed about 10% of emissions avoided in 2022. .Last year, FortisBC said it added two new electric vehicle charging stations for a total of 42 DC fast chargers throughout its electric service territory in the interior of the province. More than 1,000 commercial vehicles in the province are now operating on compressed natural gas (CNG), reducing both fuel costs and GHG emissions, it added..In marine transportation, using LNG for local marine transportation also enabled the company to help customers reduce GHG emissions in 2022. Six vessels from BC Ferries and four from Seaspan use LNG in place of heavier carbon marine fuels like diesel or fuel oil, cutting GHG emissions by 27% and virtually eliminating other airborne contaminants like sulphur oxides and particulate matter..Marine emissions are of particular concern. Vessels that regularly call at BC ports originate from ports of other countries are not included in the provincial emissions inventory. Yet they account for about 70 million megatonnes of CO2e per year — greater than BC’s total annual GHG emissions.."Climate objectives continue to evolve and we're committed to being a leader in the province's energy transformation to a lower-carbon future. We are taking actions today that are making a difference in GHG emission reductions and providing British Columbians with new choices to decarbonize their homes and businesses," said Monic Pratch, Fortis’ vice-president, general counsel, corporate secretary and sustainability czar.
