The BC government allows municipalities to effectively ban carbon-neutral, renewable natural gas (RNG) in new homes, undermining housing affordability and energy security.
Yet the province now admits BC has an electricity supply shortage. BC imports more electricity than any other province. Four years from now, the increased demand is expected to be about half of the electricity presently produced by the Site C dam.
In addition, the CRD has mothballed the electricity plant at Hartland Landfill. Their news release says the plant was nearing the end of its life, and building an RNG facility would be the “most beneficial use” from a “climate change perspective.” They say, “RNG is a carbon-neutral energy made from capturing and upgrading the biogas released from decomposing organic waste in the landfill.”
Instead of being released into the atmosphere, biogas can be used to heat homes. FortisBC purchases the RNG and injects it into the gas system, which “decarbonizes the gas supply and lowers overall GHG emissions.”
However, local mayors and councilors are banning RNG in their municipalities despite being part of the CRD board that approved the Hartland project. Local councils and CRD expect FortisBC to buy residents’ RNG, invest in expensive distribution systems, then accept a ban on distributing the RNG. This is immensely unfair and undermines energy security and affordability.
CMHC reports a 64% decline in our region’s March housing starts vs March 2025 and a 13% decline from February 2026. The one bright spot is an increase in missing middle housing (townhomes, duplexes, etc) suitable for young families. A key component of missing middle housing is on-demand hot water using gas – a more affordable and efficient way to address rising construction costs and limited space in townhomes.
The annual operating cost for a gas on-demand unit is half that of an electric tank. The gas unit lifespan is 20+ years vs an electric tank’s 7 to 10 years. On-demand wall units free up space in the design of smaller more affordable homes.
Carbon-neutral RNG should be supported in terms of housing affordability, operating costs, mortgage helper suites, and maximizing space.
Installing a dual fuel heating system should also be an option for those looking to lower their energy use and carbon emissions, and enable more energy security.
Local councils’ bans on RNG only undermine housing affordability, security and their own Hartland project approved at the CRD.
This column appears Wednesdays in the Times Colonist.
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