Environmental lawyers take FortisBC to court over ‘greenwashing’

An environmental charity group is taking a provincial utility provider to court, claiming FortisBC is “greenwashing” its gas products “in the middle of a climate and cost-of-living crisis.”

EcoJustice is claiming in its lawsuit FortisBC has “promoted” the use of renewable natural gas and fossil fuel gas to customers. It accuses the utility of claiming that these sources of home heating are “always more cost-effective and as good or better for the environment than alternatives like electric heat pumps.”

“Neither of these claims is true,” EcoJustice said in a release Tuesday.

“The company claims to care about climate action and affordability, but it continues to add 10,000 new gas consumers a year by advertising gas as a climate-friendly source of home heating,” the group added.

“FortisBC emphasizes its renewable natural gas program to consumers, but almost all of the gas they deliver to British Columbians is from fossil fuels.”

EcoJustice lawyer Andhra Azevedo claims “greenwashing is rife and systematic in Canada,” and is accusing FortisBC of misleading its consumers.

“You’ve probably seen FortisBC promoting their renewable natural gas, often with images of trees and pastoral themes. And yet, in this promotion, there’s no mention of the primary form of gas that goes to British Columbia homes, which is fossil gas — GHG-intensive fossil fuel that comes from fracking in Northern B.C.,” Azevedo said in a news conference Tuesday.

Azevedo said these ads can lead customers to choose or stay connected to gas, rather than opting for a “climate solution,” like an electric heat pump.

“This case alleges that FortisBC has deceived consumers into [believing gas is] climate-friendly and more affordable than alternatives like electric heat pumps. These claims are not true,” she added.

“The plaintiffs launched this legal challenge because FortisBC’s deception needs to end. The plaintiffs want to see FortisBC forced to stop peddling misinformation and instead tell consumers that continuing to use fossil fuels to heat homes is not a climate solution.”

EcoJustice is not seeking monetary compensation from the suit, Azevedo shares, but is looking for a declaration from the court that FortisBC has engaged in “deceptive conduct.”

The group is also seeking an injunction to prohibit FortisBC from making the claims, and ensure that all consumers have “full information” as they make decisions that EcoJustice says will “affect their energy costs and climate impacts for years to come.”

FortisBC refutes claims made by EcoJustice

In a statement to CityNews, the utility provider says it is aware of the notice of civil claim.

“FortisBC disagrees with the allegations contained in the claim and maintains that it has conducted itself at all times in accordance with its legal obligations,” the statement reads.

“FortisBC takes climate change very seriously and is taking action to help B.C. meet its climate goals. FortisBC always works to protect the environment — whether by helping customers reduce their GHG emissions, progressing initiatives to lower our own operational GHG emissions or implementing new environmental protections.”