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Biogas Energy Sources
Organic waste could provide energy for thousands of B.C. homes and businesses under new alternative program
SURREY, B.C. – Terasen Gas has announced plans for a new B.C.-wide alternative energy program seeking supplies of bio-methane developed from the conversion of organic waste from sewage treatment facilities, landfill sites, the agricultural sector and other industry that can be used as an energy source to heat homes and businesses, provide fuel for hot water heaters, stoves, clothes dryers and barbecues.
"We are issuing a call to municipalities, waste management companies, farms and other businesses to bring forward opportunities whereby new facilities could be built or existing ones upgraded to allow the production of bio-methane and its conversion into a clean and renewable energy source," said Doug Stout, Terasen Gas Vice President, Marketing and Business Development. "This initiative supports the B.C. Energy Plan's objective to increase the province's production of clean and renewable energy, while reducing emissions from waste methane, which is 21 times more powerful in warming the atmosphere than CO2."
The Terasen Gas Request for Expressions of Interest invites proposals to develop facilities that will collect and produce biogas from organic waste material. The gas produced will then be converted to pipeline quality and injected into the Terasen Gas system.
"The Lower Mainland alone produces enough organic waste that once processed, could heat 45,000 homes, or provide the equivalent amount of energy to run 2,250 diesel-fuel buses per year," said Stout. "Using innovative solutions, Terasen Gas would like to capture and use as much of this clean energy source as possible."
The plan expands on an existing $1.1 million innovative pilot project already underway to capture and purify biogas from West Vancouver's Lions Gate wastewater treatment plant, which will heat 100 homes. The new program will also target restaurant food waste, beer and winery by-products, and methane generated by other sewage treatment plants.
Information sessions to gather feedback and responses are planned for around the province this fall, after which the formal Request will be finalized. The submission deadline for expressions of interest is February 2, 2009. More details are available in the attached backgrounder and online at www.terasengas.com/biogas.
Terasen Gas delivers natural gas and propane through three companies that make up the Terasen Gas group: Terasen Gas Inc., Terasen Gas (Vancouver Island) Inc. and Terasen Gas (Whistler) Inc. The companies share common Terasen Inc. ownership and are indirect wholly owned subsidiaries of Fortis Inc. Fortis Inc., the largest investor-owned distribution utility in Canada, serves two million gas and electric customers and has more than $10 billion of assets. Its regulated holdings include Terasen Gas and electric utilities in five Canadian provinces and three Caribbean countries. Fortis Inc. owns non-regulated hydroelectric generation assets across Canada and in Belize and upper New York State. It also owns hotels and commercial real estate in Canada. Fortis Inc. shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and trade under the symbol FTS. Additional information can be accessed at www.fortisinc.com or www.sedar.com.