Lyonel Doherty, Times Chronicle

FortisBC’s proposed natural gas expansion project in the Okanagan isn’t sitting well with a local group of concerned citizens.

The group, First Things First Okanagan, presented its view at last week’s regional district meeting.

Spokesperson Jim Beattie said they oppose FortisBC’s Okanagan Capacity Upgrade project consisting of approximately 30 kilometres of new gas line along Penticton’s eastern border extending north beyond Chute Lake.

The company says the project is driven by increasing demand and will strengthen its system for approximately 105,000 homes and businesses. FortisBC says the majority of the route will be alongside its existing rights of way in order to minimize its environmental footprint.

But Beattie told regional directors that the expansion will indeed impact the environment and contribute to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

He said their group’s mission is to promote awareness of climate change and explore solutions. And this pipeline expansion is not one of them.

Beattie said First Things First wants to lower the carbon footprint and reduce the use of fossil fuels which are contributing to the Earth’s warming climate.

He noted their group has been accepted as an intervenor in the fight against FortisBC’s plan to increase its natural gas infrastructure.

Beattie said the group is mounting a serious campaign on the dangers of increasing fossil fuel capacity. He noted that scientists are calling for a rapid reduction in fossil fuels in this “urgent situation.”

Beattie asked how can they reduce the carbon footprint in less than 10 years when fossil fuel infrastructure like this is being built to last 30 or more?

“We find ourselves having to repeat old news that we’re in a very desperate situation.”

Beattie noted they have a serious concern that construction of new natural gas infrastructure will only encourage its production in the future, which in turn will challenge municipalities in their mandates to lower GHG emissions.

Beattie said reducing emissions will reduce energy costs, resulting in less vulnerability to energy markets. He also noted there is “greater job creation on the greenhouse side of the energy ledger.”

He noted they must meet climate change targets, and the solution to doing that is denying FortisBC’s request to expand.

“Local government is faced with an enormous challenge to find a way to encourage and direct the building of new homes that use renewable energy. That is the only thing that will stop the trending upwards of greenhouse gases.”

Despite the pushback against Fortis, Beattie said they must continue to work with the company to promote electric vehicles and heat pumps.

The climate change advocate said they are being told the future is bleak, adding that scientists are warning that GHG emissions must stop by 2025. That means no more building gas, oil or coal infrastructure.

Beattie said it’s time to support the transition to clean, sustainable energy that conflicts with corporate goals.