It was looking for a "made-in-Richmond" solution to reducing natural gas consumption, now the city has one that was definitely "made in Richmond."
The city plans to help turn solid waste into renewable natural gas (RNG) at the Lulu Island Wastewater Treatment Plant.
City staff have been working for some time with Metro Vancouver, which runs the plant, and FortisBC to produce a renewable source of fuel in an attempt to reduce the city's greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs).
If it goes ahead as planned, the city will buy up to 10 per cent of its natural gas from the plant, which is derived from biogas.
The biogas - produced when bacteria breaks down organic waste in sources such as wastewater plants - can be purified to be interchangeable with natural gas.
FortisBC has been working with Metro Vancouver to come up with a plan to bring the biogas into production at the plant, which is hoped to kick into action late in 2013.
"The availability of RNG captured from solid waste produced . at the Lulu RNG, represents a 'made in Richmond' opportunity for the city to replace up to 10 per cent of the corporate natural gas consumption.," said Cecelia Achiam, the city's interim director of sustainability and district energy, in her report to council.
Achiam also pointed out the "ease of conversion" for customers, as there is no new equipment needed for businesses and residents to receive RNG.
It's understood that Richmond would be among the first cities in the region to take advantage of the FortisBC initiative. It's estimated that, should the city replace 10 per cent of its gas consumption with RNG, it will equate to a GHG emission reduction of approximately 405 tonnes or the same as diverting 304,790 pounds of waste from the landfill.
The city anticipates that, in the fullness of time, the same RNG service could be offered the public in Richmond. ".it provides an example of a simple alternative for Richmond residents and businesses to participate in achieving the adopted community-wide energy and GHG reduction targets," added Achiam.
