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Fortis sets emissions goals for Canadian, US utilities

Fortis Inc. plans to slash output of greenhouse gases at its British Columbia utility by 2030 and anticipates nearing a renewable generation goal at its Arizona operations nine years ahead of schedule.

FortisBC Inc. has set "an ambitious goal to reduce [greenhouse gas] emissions associated with their customers' energy use by 30% overall by the year 2030," the Newfoundland and Labrador-headquartered company said in a Sept. 23 statement. Fortis owns local gas distribution companies across British Columbia and operates an LNG facility in the province's populous Lower Mainland region. It intends to reach the emissions reduction target through energy efficiency programs, increasing supplies of renewable natural gas and boosting the use of low-emitting vehicles.

In Arizona, the company's Tucson Electric Power Co. utility is expected to get more than 28% of its electricity from renewables by 2021. Fortis had set a target of getting 30% of the utility's power from renewables by 2030 and is currently working with the University of Arizona to set new goals for its 2020 resource plan. The company has partnered with the university to supply all of the institution's energy from low-emitting sources by 2020.

"FortisBC and Tucson Electric Power, in particular, are setting targets that will have a positive effect on our environment," Fortis CEO Barry Perry said in the statement. "We are seeing good progress in our efforts to deliver cleaner energy to customers."

The commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are built into the company's five-year capital spending plan.

"Our five-year [C]$18.3 billion capital plan includes investments in sustainability initiatives supporting a green and resilient energy grid," Perry said.