Lawsuit accuses B.C. gas utility of deceiving consumers over environmental impact

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VANCOUVER — An environmental group is suing British Columbia pure gasoline utility FortisBC, accusing it of “greenwashing” its product by promoting, making the corporate appear extra environmentally pleasant than it’s.

The lawsuit was launched by the Stand Environmental Society, also referred to as Stand Earth, alleging FortisBC’s adverts exaggerate claims across the quantity of renewable pure gasoline in its system when the vast majority of it’s gasoline is from fossil fuels.

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Lawyer Andhra Azevedo advised a information convention Tuesday that the lawsuit alleges Fortis is deceptive shoppers in its promoting by emphasizing its renewable pure gasoline provide as being a part of a local weather resolution whereas not mentioning that 90 per cent of the gasoline in its system is fossil gas produced primarily from fracking in northern B.C.

“The case alleges that these adverts, together with different claims by FortisBC, can mislead shoppers into connecting to, or staying linked to, gasoline slightly than selecting a local weather resolution like an electrical warmth pump that may additionally present price financial savings for a lot of shoppers in B.C. over time,” she stated.

The lawsuit says FortisBC has dedicated “deceitful acts,” violated shopper safety legal guidelines, and it asks a choose to order the corporate to difficulty “corrective commercials,” and be prohibited from making the misrepresentations in future adverts.

Not one of the claims have been confirmed in courtroom.

FortisBC stated in an announcement that it disagrees with the allegations within the assertion of declare and that it conducts itself in accordance with its authorized obligations.

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“FortisBC at all times works to guard the setting, whether or not by serving to prospects cut back their GHG emissions, progressing initiatives to decrease our personal operational GHG emissions or implementing new environmental protections,” it’s assertion stated.

The paperwork filed in B.C. Supreme Court docket say Fortis misrepresents that the enterprise and its merchandise align with local weather targets set by the province.

The authorized motion says the corporate is wrongly implying that its merchandise are cheaper than utilizing electrical warmth pumps and that its renewable pure gasoline product is licensed carbon impartial, however even high-efficiency gasoline furnaces have larger greenhouse gasoline emissions than warmth pumps.

Penticton resident Lorraine Goldman, who’s one in every of two B.C. residents additionally listed as plaintiffs within the case, stated Tuesday that she referred to as Fortis to purchase renewable pure gasoline considering it was a “nice concept” however realized that it was unimaginable for her to get solely renewable gasoline.

“So long as I’m linked to gasoline, I’ll get fossil gas delivered to my house whether or not I paid for (renewable gasoline) or not,” she stated.

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Azevedo stated the case alleges FortisBC advertises its renewable pure gasoline as coming from “native” sources when the bulk is bought from outdoors the province.

The lawsuit additionally alleges Fortis has falsely stated that it’s renewable pure gasoline is licensed as carbon impartial.

“In submitting this case, the plaintiffs, our purchasers, are usually not searching for any cash from Fortis,” Azevedo stated.

As a substitute, she stated they need the courtroom to declare that FortisBC has engaged in misleading conduct, and make an order that the utility has to promote any courtroom discovering to let shoppers know, permitting them to make choices about their power prices and local weather impacts.

This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed March 26, 2024

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