FRACKING AND LNG

Frequently Asked Questions

Fracking, the gas industry, and proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) plants are BC’s biggest climate problem. But what is fracking, why is it harmful, and what are we asking of the BC government?

(See below for actions you can take!)

What is fracking?

Fracking is the process gas companies use to extract methane gas from shale rock beds deep underground in northeastern BC. They mix enormous amounts of freshwater with silica sand and a cocktail of toxic chemicals, then pump it down a well at extremely high pressure to shatter the rock and displace the gas. 

What is LNG?

LNG, or liquified natural gas, is a process used to supercool methane gas in order to liquify the gas so that it can be put on tankers and exported overseas. This process is extremely energy-intensive and occurs at LNG facilities.

Why does BC need to end fracking?

Growing gas production, particularly for export, threatens BC’s ability to meet its climate commitments. Already the first phase of LNG Canada, due to be completed in 2025, means the province will not meet its target of a 16% reduction in carbon emissions for that year. Every new LNG plant puts BC further off track and makes it less likely we’ll meet our 2030 goal. Meanwhile, gas demand must decline 20% by 2030 to limit global heating to safe levels, according to the International Energy Agency. 

What are the local impacts in northeast BC?

Fracking has destroyed an area of forest and farmland five times the size of Alberta’s tar sands mines. It draws over five billion litres of water a year from nearby rivers and lakes, contributing to drought conditions. Residents of the Peace Region face enormous health risks living in close proximity to fracking operations but little research has been done. Doctors report staggering rates of glioblastoma and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Recent studies show pregnant women living near gas development have elevated levels of benzene metabolites in their urine. Indigenous participants had six times the level of the carcinogen than the Canadian population.

Why is gas so bad for the climate?

Methane is the main component of fracked gas. It’s an extremely potent greenhouse gas that traps 86 times as much heat as carbon dioxide over its lifetime in the atmosphere. From the gas well to the consumer, methane escapes at every step of the process. While BC has committed to nearly eliminate industrial methane leaks by 2035, there are limits to this approach. The more gas we extract, the more will wind up in the atmosphere heating the planet.

Won’t the proposed oil and gas emissions cap solve this problem?

For years, the provincial government has claimed the existence of sectoral targets for the oil and gas industry makes it possible for them to approve new LNG plants. But BC has missed every climate target it has ever set for itself and no new pollution fits into a plan the province is not on track to meet. While the recently proposed oil and gas emissions cap is promising, there have been no details showing the policy would actually result in no new LNG plants being constructed and a decline in gas production. With the industry lobbying the province several times a day, it seems more likely it will serve only to greenwash the growing extraction of fossil fuels. Additionally, the cap only addresses production emissions; the vast majority of GHG emissions occurs when LNG reaches its intended market and is subsequently burned.

How would a phase out of the gas industry affect the economy?

BC has a thriving, diverse economy. Oil and gas contributes less to GDP than tourism and creates less jobs than the film industry. Even in northeastern BC, healthcare employs more people than fracking does. Gas revenues contribute only $2 billion to the province’s $80+ billion budget. Phasing out fracking over the next decade or so would not significantly impact the provincial economy as a whole. However, there are several thousand workers, eight First Nations and a handful of communities that would need support to transition to a sustainable economy. Investing in the Peace Region so it can develop an economy based on renewable energy, ecological restoration and other sustainable sectors is critical to ending fracking. 

How will people in BC heat their homes without gas?

Currently, only about 10% of the gas extracted in BC is used for domestic purposes (such as home heating). Most of the gas BC currently extracts is shipped to Alberta. As for our domestic needs, BC is fortunate to have abundant renewable energy to run heat pumps and a public utility that can maintain affordability as residents adopt them for space and water heating. It also has an opportunity to put tens of thousands of people to work installing these appliances and insulating homes so they work even in the coldest conditions. Heat pumps work using a compressor to extract heat from the outdoors and are extremely energy efficient. They also double as air conditioning during summer heat wave events that are becoming more common and dangerous.