Granisle British Columbia: a feasibility study to convert the community from propane to natural gas

Natural gas is a relatively clean burning reliable source of energy as compared to other fossil fuels, and is used to heat millions of homes across Canada. In recent years the oil and gas industries have developed procedures for extraction of natural gas using unconventional methods that have resulted in proven vast reserves in Canada. These vast reserves are driving the cost of the energy source to record low prices. Choosing natural gas for space, water and process heating in the residential, commercial and industrial sectors can decrease the demand for electricity generation. This can improve the overall efficiency of energy utilization and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. (CAPP, 2012) With the reduced cost of this energy source coupled with recent technological improvements in the compression and transportation of natural gas, the ability to supply this abundant resource to remote small communities is becoming a reality. This project will consider existing technological methods of loading, transporting, and unloading methods for natural gas and determine the feasibility of supplying the product to the remote communities of Granisle, Moricetown, and Hazelton in North West British Columbia as a competitive alternative to propane and oil as a source of home heating. Without significant demand for energy and considering the cost of infrastructure and operations the option of supplying natural gas to a remote community is not viable. However, with the addition of a large industrial customer such as a mining operation the demand for the resource increases significantly thereby creating a viable project. --Leaf i.