The best laid plans often take time.
It has been over a year since the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary (RDKB) expedited and approved the development permit for REN Energy’s state-of-the-art Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) facility proposed for Fruitvale and yet, another projected start date has come and gone.
The plan for the project was originally hatched in 2020, and has had several start-up dates postponed due to the pandemic, supply-chain issues, and unforeseen circumstances. However, upon receiving its development permit, REN CEO Phil Viggiani told the Trail Times that he expected to see shovels in the ground in early spring of 2023.
That of course did not happen, however, REN’s potential partner, FortisBC, confirmed on Monday (March 11) that the project is still going ahead.
“As a future supplier of RNG, REN Energy and FortisBC are in communication regarding the project,” said Diane Sorace, senior advisor of corporate communications, FortisBC.
“Once in operation, the project is anticipated to produce over 1-million gigajoules (GJs) of RNG each year, the largest source of RNG in the province to date.”
The regional district approved the development permit on Nov. 18, 2022, the very day it was submitted by REN Energy.
The development permit issued allowed REN to begin groundworks on the property, but the company needed to pursue additional permits.
“Since the RDKB issued a development permit for the REN project, we understand that the company has been pursuing the various provincial approvals and other due diligence requirements that are standard for a new project of this sort,” said RDKB CAO Mark Andison.
The Times contacted Fruitvale Mayor Steve Morissette who also voiced concern over the delay, saying the company had gone “dark.”
“It is unfortunate,” said Morissette. “It would be awesome for it to happen but I think they are scratching for investors, that’s my sense of it.”
The project would be a positive addition to the West Kootenay economy, but sourcing $200-million from investors might take a while, Morissette said.
“We are still hoping it’s going to go ahead one day, but who knows.”
The innovative project will see a unique combination of existing technology that will be used for the first time in North America and help to reduce emissions from B.C.’s expansive forestry sector.
The production facility will create renewable natural gas produced from wood waste sourced from area forestry companies such as ATCO Wood Products Ltd., located in Fruitvale.
“RNG can blend seamlessly with conventional natural gas in our existing natural gas infrastructure running throughout the province,” said Sorace. “Increasing the amount of renewable and low-carbon gas in our system is vital to affordably and safely transitioning British Columbia to a lower-carbon future.
“We welcome this unique opportunity to increase RNG supply for British Columbians.”
The BC Utilities Commission (BCUC) recently denied FortisBC Energy Inc.’s application for an upgrade and an addition of 30 km to its Okanagan natural gas pipeline. According to BCUC, the demand for natural gas is likely to flatten or fall in the next 20 years, due to CleanBC Roadmap commitments and the new BC Energy Step Codes that are intent on reducing CO2 emissions.
Yet, Fortis says REN’s RNG proposal should not be impacted but rather add to an environment friendly initiative by burning brush piles and collecting all the emissions and repurposing them for household use.
“Advancing low-carbon energies such as RNG is a crucial element in our plans to reduce greenhouse gas emission for our customers,” said Sorace. “This is in line with the commitments outlined by the province in its CleanBC roadmap.
“Converting wood waste to RNG is a new and innovative avenue towards increasing the amount of renewable and low-carbon gas in our system.”
The production facility is planned for the old ATCO mill site at Park Siding, just outside of the Village of Fruitvale.
The Times attempts to contact REN Energy were unsuccessful.
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