SURREY, B.C. – After almost two years of construction, Terasen Gas has completed its
50-kilometre pipeline along the Sea-to-Sky Highway, marking the arrival of natural gas to the Resort Municipality of Whistler. Conversion of appliances from propane to natural gas is now underway.

 

“This is a great accomplishment. With the completion of the pipeline, we have contributed to Whistler’s sustainable future, while carrying out the role natural gas plays as a foundational fuel in the province,” says Dwain Bell, Vice President of Distribution, Terasen Gas.

 

The section-by-section conversion of appliances began in Function Junction and is moving steadily north to Alpine Meadows. The work is expected to be completed by the end of August. “We’ve brought together a skilled team of employees and contractors from around the province to complete the appliance conversions,” says Bell. “Over the course of the summer, they will complete approximately 14,000 appliance conversions – a truly outstanding achievement.”

 

To convert propane appliances so they are compatible with natural gas, customers will need to provide supervised access to their homes or businesses on the morning of their pre-set date of conversion. Customers will experience a temporary, but necessary, gas service interruption. If appliances are in good condition and replacement parts are available, technicians should be able to complete the work the same day. A complete conversion schedule is available on terasengas.com/whistler.

 

As part of our routine process, each section of pipe must be cleared of propane prior to the introduction of natural gas. Every day, small amounts of propane will be purged from each section of pipe and burned off into the atmosphere by trained Terasen Gas technicians. In most cases this will last from five to 20 minutes. This is the safest, most environmentally sound method.

 

During our work, residents may hear a sound similar to an engine or smell a distinctive rotten egg odour. The smell is an odourant we add to natural gas, which is odourless. The sounds and smells should only last a short time. However, residents should not hesitate if they suspect a gas emergency and call our 24-hour emergency phone number at 1-800-663-9911. 

 

Now that natural gas is available in Whistler, residents can look forward to using one of the cleanest burning, most efficient fuels available today.

 

“Terasen's achievement of the pipeline to Whistler shows how business and communities can align planning and development. As the combustion of natural gas is 15 per cent less carbon-intensive than propane, the availability of natural gas within Whistler enables local businesses to reduce their emission footprint immediately,” says Ken Melamed, Mayor of Whistler. “As such, natural gas provides an important stepping stone for our community along our transition to a lower-carbon economy.”
 
For more information about natural gas safety or the Whistler Natural Gas Conversion Project:

 

Media Contact:

Carol Greaves

Community Relations Manager

Phone: 250-888-0588

E-mail: carol.greaves@terasengas.com