FortisBC teams with Dicklands Farms to produce Renewable Natural Gas from agricultural waste

FortisBC Energy Inc. (FortisBC) is adding more Renewable Natural Gas (RNG)1 to its system by teaming with Dicklands Farms in Chilliwack, British Columbia (B.C.), who is producing RNG from agricultural and food waste. Once the project is at peak production, it is expected to produce enough low-carbon2 RNG to meet the annual gas needs of approximately 2,000 B.C. homes.

"With Dicklands Farms and the existing Fraser Valley Biogas project, the residents of the Fraser Valley can be proud of how much their community is helping advance a lower-carbon future in B.C.," said Jenelle De La Cour, manager, Renewable Gas accounts with FortisBC. "The more RNG we have, the less conventional natural gas we need. Every RNG project is a win for climate action."

When bacteria break down organic waste from sources such as landfills, agricultural farms 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 RNG mixes seamlessly into the existing natural gas infrastructure, it decarbonizes the natural gas supply, displaces equivalent volumes of conventional natural gas and lowers greenhouse gas emissions overall.