VICTORIA — Merran Smith, executive director at Clean Energy Canada, made the following statement in response to the memorandum of understanding made between the federal government and the province of B.C. to electrify the natural gas sector.
“Electrification is the thread that ties all climate efforts together. Powering our cars, our homes, and our industries with clean electricity is the only sustainable path forward.
“Today’s agreement between the federal and B.C. governments delivers on a critical component of B.C.’s climate plan. That is, electrifying natural gas projects, particularly in the Peace region—where demand for electricity is currently growing faster than anywhere else in the province.
“Given that B.C.’s power grid is already almost entirely renewable, electrification is a particularly effective way to avoid future emissions.
“Electrifying industry is necessary for B.C. to hit its climate targets, and B.C. hitting its climate targets is necessary for Canada to hit our national targets. From the wildfires out west to the floods and heatwaves out east, Canadians are on the front lines of climate change. And in a climate crisis, federal-provincial collaboration has never been more important.”
KEY FACTS
- Canada and the province of B.C. are examining $680 million in near-term electrification projects for joint funding.
- In April, the federal government provided $84 million of investment to help electrify industrial operations in B.C.’s Peace region, with BC Hydro providing $205 million.
- Electrifying natural gas projects in the Peace region will cut carbon pollution by 2.6 million tonnes and is a key commitment in Phase 1 of CleanBC.
- Phase 1 of CleanBC commits to reducing industrial emissions by 8.4 million tonnes per year.
