Switch building from natural gas to electricity
Burning fossil fuels to heat our homes and buildings is the single biggest source of climate damage coming from Vancouver. It is 50% of city GHGs and much more damaging than all vehicle emissions. Vancouver should levy a carbon tax on natural gas and use it to subsidize people who choose to switch to electric heating, especially heat pumps. Vancouver will never be able to meet its climate goals and responsibility until nearly all natural gas burning is stopped. No new technology is needed as many buildings already are fully electric and have been for decades. Today 41% of energy used in our homes and buildings is electricity, and it time to fuel switch the dirty 59% of it to cleaner BC electricity.
Stonebreaker
shared this idea
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Angela
commented
Combine this with ideas to produce local/regional electricity from alternatives. Not at all keen on destroying a beautiful and important river valley (The Peace River Valley - Site C) for our increased electricity needs.
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Aone
commented
BC Hydro has no spare electricity capacity as it is now. BC Hydro is scrambling to meet future demand as the population of the area increase even more. I see a return to natural gas generation for electricity.