Vancouver council voted Wednesday to stay the course on a policy implemented in 2022 that bans natural gas for heating and hot water in construction of new detached homes.
The vote, however, was close — as in a 5-5 tie, which killed the push from ABC Vancouver Coun. Brian Montague in July to reverse the policy. The vote in July to have staff develop a report on how to implement the changes was 6-5.
That report was the subject of Wednesday's vote.
Montague’s ABC colleague, Rebecca Bligh, supported the move in July but switched her position in Wednesday’s vote, arguing that she had more information and facts to make a proper decision.
“I believe we made the wrong decision [in July],” Bligh told council. “The fact is, the initial policy of using electricity for heat and hot water in new buildings is the right one for people in Vancouver.”
She said electricity is at least the same cost as gas to operate for the type of heating, and that estimates show it will be cheaper in the long run for owners and renters to invest in electrification.
“I've heard from builders who say electricity is cheaper and better, and I've also heard from young people that felt disappointed and let down by the vote in July,” Bligh said. “They saw what I see now.”
'Either true, or it's not'
Green Party councillors Pete Fry and Adriane Carr, along with ABC Vancouver councillors Peter Meiszner and Lisa Dominato kept their same votes from July.
OneCity Coun. Christine Boyle, who is now an NDP cabinet minister, is still technically on a leave of absence but didn’t participate in Wednesday’s vote. In July, Boyle voted against reversing the policy.
Mayor Ken Sim and ABC colleagues Mike Klassen, Lenny Zhou and Sarah Kirby-Yung joined Montague Wednesday in wanting the ban reversed. Sim questioned the validity of the staff report’s conclusions about electrification.
“The report says that by electrifying there won't be any delays, there won't be a significant increase in cost and the carbon footprint will be decreased,” the mayor said.
“So the reality is that's either true or it's not. If it's true, I truly believe everyone would adopt electrification, because it would be at the same price, with no delay, and it's actually good for our community.”
He continued: “Or it's not true, and less homes will get built and it will be less affordable.”
Sim noted that when he questioned staff about whether electrifying all new homes in Vancouver would reduce temperatures globally, he was told no. At the same time, staff emphasized that Vancouver has been a leader in green buildings and efforts to reduce carbon pollution.
“I understand we have to signal as the City of Vancouver, but at what cost?” said Sim, adding that “in the real world” judgment calls and trade-offs were necessary.
“The judgment call I'm going to err on, or I'm going to make, is I'm going to support natural gas. If banning it would have an impact, even a minor impact that was measurable, I would change my mind.”
142 registered speakers
The vote Wednesday came after council heard from dozens of speakers — including doctors, engineers and environmental scientists — opposed to reversing the ban.
A total of 142 people were registered to speak to council, with Carr saying in her closing remarks that 91 supported the current policy on banning natural gas in new home construction.
Michael Schwandt of Vancouver Coastal Health said that as a medical health officer he was mandated to advise local government on decisions impacting public health. Climate change, he said, has been described as the greatest threat to public health of our time.
Schwandt said he opposed reversing the ban, referencing the staff report and presentation that said allowing natural gas in new construction was not expected to improve affordability or accelerate housing approvals when compared to the low carbon option.
FortisBC
Doug Slater, vice-president of Indigenous relations and regulatory affairs at FortisBC, described reversing the ban as a “pragmatic move in support of affordability and energy choice” for Vancouverites.
Slater told council that allowing natural gas in new construction closely aligned with the feedback from FortisBC customers who value the right to choose the energy source that best meets their heating needs and budgets while also supporting the transition to lower emissions.
“The city should recognize the important role of the gas system for customers, and the transformation that it is undergoing,” Slater said. “Maintaining access to the gas system is vital to facilitating the actions we're taking to help progressively lower emissions.”
The staff report before council was produced after Montague successfully moved his motion in July to direct staff to develop a plan to reverse the natural gas policy, which has been in place since 2022.
At the time, Montague argued the cost of building a house solely powered by electricity was expensive. He said builders should be allowed a choice of natural gas or electrification — a choice the councillor suggested could unlock more home construction.
He said the city’s “well-intentioned” policy from 2022 to only allow natural gas in new homes for cooking and powering a fireplace translated to a negative effect on affordability, both for builders and potential renters or buyers.
Gas allowed for cooking
Staff’s report to council outlined two “compliance paths” for builders and developers.
Those paths were:
• To build to a high level of the Zero Carbon Step Code, which generally does not allow gas for space heating and water heating. A council vote on that option was 6-4 in favour.
• Or to build to the highest step of the Energy Step Code, which achieves a higher level of energy efficiency through building envelope requirements but allows gas to be used for space heating and hot water.
That was the option that ended in a 5-5 tie, effectively killing it and keeping the ban in place.
The policy, however, does allow for gas in cooking and some ancillary uses, such as a gas fireplace or backup heating, in new detached homes.
The policy does not limit or regulate gas in Vancouver's existing buildings.
The majority of Vancouver’s carbon pollution — 55 per cent — comes from natural gas use in homes and buildings. Another 40 per cent of emissions are generated by gas-powered vehicles, according to city staff reports.
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