VICTORIA — Joanna Kyriazis, director of policy and strategy at Clean Energy Canada, made the following statement in response to the Province of B.C. and BC Hydro’s Powering Growth, Fueling Opportunity plan for meeting future electricity demand.
“B.C.’s new comprehensive plan to meet electricity demand growth has all the right elements, but it lacks the ambition required to truly leverage the province’s clean electricity advantage.
“First, the plan is built around an electricity demand projection—a 50% increase by 2050—that is out of step with federal electricity ambitions and B.C.’s own 2024 clean energy strategy, which recognized that provincial electricity use would likely double by 2050. The federal government’s recent Electricity Strategy likewise committed to building new infrastructure to double Canada’s electricity supply by 2050.
“Without the right growth trajectory, B.C. risks having to make difficult choices between industrial electrification and the electrification of homes and transportation that will help save British Columbians money at a time when gas prices and costs of living are high. EVs save typical drivers about $23,000 to $32,000 over 10 years of ownership, while heat pumps are the cheapest form of heating and cooling in most of the province.
“The plan rightly recognizes the energy conservation and grid optimization potential of clean energy technologies like EVs, heat pumps, and smart thermostats, leveraging the province’s recently announced PowerSmart 2.0 program. When used effectively, these technologies can also help lower peak demand and reduce the cost of grid build-out. According to our research, unlocking the potential of distributed energy resources could reduce B.C.’s peak electricity demand by up to 10% within the next 14 years. Integrating these pillars into the plan is a good first step, but more should be done to encourage British Columbians to adopt clean energy technologies at home—whether through implementing ambitious EV sales requirements en route to B.C.’s new 2035 target or by introducing a regulation that makes every central air conditioner sold in B.C. a heat pump.
“It is great to see BC Hydro is also actively considering renewables and battery storage in addition to hydro and transmission to meet B.C.’s future electricity needs. Modern renewables like wind and solar are the cheapest forms of new electricity globally, and Ontario’s recent energy storage procurement showed just how cheap complementary batteries can be.
“Ultimately, however, the plan’s projected demand growth is out of step with building a competitive, electrified B.C. economy that works for households and industry alike. Given the province’s comparative electricity headstart—with an already-clean grid and low rates for consumers—B.C. should be a cornerstone of Canada’s electrified future, not a weak spot.”