A new energy assessment tool to help farms across British Columbia become more energy efficient will be available to agricultural producers this spring. With funding and development expertise being provided by FortisBC and other collaborators, the BC Farm Energy Assessment pilot project was launched to design and test an Excel-based software tool that measures energy and helps farmers to identify energy efficiency opportunities.
“Energy conservation and environmental responsibility are fundamental values for FortisBC. We are committed to meeting our customers’ energy needs for today and tomorrow, while helping them to be as energy efficient as possible using innovative solutions,” said Doug Stout, vice president, energy solutions and external relations at FortisBC. “Through initiatives such as the BC Farm Energy Assessment pilot project, farms across the province will soon be able to save more money and energy, while making important contributions towards achieving B.C.’s climate action goals.”
During the first phase of the pilot project, which was completed in late 2010, Prism Engineering was contracted to help develop the assessment tool and measure the energy use of 27 B.C. farms. The assessments also looked at ways these farms could become more energy efficient, and covered perse types of operations from dairy and poultry farms, to vegetable greenhouses.
While energy efficiency opportunities varied considerably between the farms, according to the pilot project results, it is estimated that these 27 farms together have potential to save significant amounts of energy annually: over 750,000 kilowatt hours of electricity, over 57,000 gigajoules of natural gas, and over 300 gigajoules of propane or diesel.
“The BC Agriculture Council is committed to the development and continued growth of B.C.’s agriculture and agri-food industry. Improved energy efficiencies like those identified in this pilot project can help our industry be more competitive in the long term,” said Garnet Etsell, BC Agriculture Council Chair and Abbotsford area turkey producer. “On behalf of farmers across B.C., I would like to thank our pilot project collaborators for their financial, in-kind and project administration support.”
The pilot project was led by the BC Agriculture Council’s BC Agriculture & Food Climate Action Initiative, in collaboration with FortisBC, BC Hydro, the BC Ministry of Agriculture, the BC Ministry of Energy, and the Agricultural Research & Development Corporation. FortisBC, BC Hydro and the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC provided $80,000 funding for the project.
The second phase of the pilot project is currently underway and will include expansion of the assessment tool to a broader range of farm types such as grain and tree fruit.
For more information on the BC Farm Energy Assessment Pilot Project, visit: www.bcagclimateaction.ca.
FortisBC is an integrated energy solutions provider focused on providing safe and reliable energy, including natural gas, electricity, propane and alternative energy solutions, at the lowest reasonable cost. FortisBC employs more than 2,000 British Columbians and serves approximately 1.1 million customers in more than 135 B.C. communities. FortisBC is indirectly wholly owned by Fortis Inc., the largest investor-owned distribution utility in Canada. FortisBC owns and operates four regulated hydroelectric generating plants, approximately 7,000 kilometres of transmission and distribution power lines and approximately 46,000 kilometres of natural gas transmission and distribution pipelines. FortisBC Inc., FortisBC Energy Inc., FortisBC Energy (Vancouver Island) Inc., and FortisBC Energy (Whistler) Inc. do business as FortisBC. 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.