RDKB, FortisBC continue climate action together
By RDKB
The Regional District of Kootenay Boundary (RDKB) has entered into a new agreement with FortisBC Energy Inc. (FortisBC) to extend funding for a Senior Energy Specialist position over a two-year period through FortisBC’s Climate Action Partners Program.
Senior Energy Specialist Freya Phillips has worked for the past two years to develop and support implementation of the RDKB Corporate Greenhouse Gas Reduction Action Plan and to promote corporate and community energy conservation.
“This is great news to know that we can continue with some key initiatives to move us closer to becoming carbon neutral as a local government. On behalf of our Board of Directors, I want to recognize the positive partnership we’ve developed with FortisBC as a result of this program and thank FortisBC for recommitting to it,” said Diane Langman, RDKB board chair.
“All our Senior Energy Specialists are crucial in helping the province advance a lower carbon future and we’re proud to continue working with the RDKB to reduce emissions,” said Dana Wong, public policy manager with FortisBC. “I’d like to thank the RDKB for its leadership in climate action, and specifically Freya for her ongoing commitment to this program.”
Some key achievements during the collaboration have included completion of energy assessments at ten RDKB facilities and upgrades for energy efficiency, a staff climate and energy awareness campaign, community and industry engagement on preparing for the Province mandating BC Energy Step Code in the 2022 building code, and the launch of the Build Energy Smart program to support and increase awareness of how to build more energy efficient homes.
As if that were not enough, Phillips also led the RDKB’s Low Carbon Fleet Project to replace three gasoline-fuelled vehicles with electric vehicles with plans to acquire more electric vehicles in the coming years and installation of electric vehicle charging infrastructure at RDKB offices.
Over the next two years, Phillips will continue to support the development of policies, programs and actions to reduce the RDKB’s carbon footprint and she will work collaboratively with community organizations where possible to develop regional approaches to climate action.
About the Climate Action Partners Program
FortisBC’s Climate Action Partners program works with governments and organizations throughout BC to help them achieve their climate action goals using FortisBC’s suite of lower carbon and renewable energy solutions. FortisBC works collaboratively with its partners to hire a senior energy specialist who will help their new employer reach their climate action goals, whether that’s reducing emissions, improving energy efficiency and/or fostering green energy solutions in their community.
FortisBC’s Climate Action Partners program is an important part in helping the organization achieve its 30BY30 target, an ambitious goal to reduce its customers’ greenhouse gas emissions by 30 per cent by 2030.
About the RDKB’s Climate Actions
The RDKB signed on to the BC Climate Action Charter in 2008 and committed to work towards being carbon neutral.
In October 2019, the RDKB declared a Climate Action Imperative, recognizing that the RDKB and its communities are already facing significant impacts of climate change and committing to take measurable actions to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
The RDKB annually reports its RDKB Corporate Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory to the public.
In 2020, RDKB net greenhouse gas emissions were 621 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) which is 45 per cent below our 2012 emissions and 52 per cent below 2008 emissions level.
The Government of B.C. recognized the RDKB on February 1 as one of the only rural regional districts in BC to embrace EVs in our fleet and include EV charging in future facility projects.
