A hydrogen-powered Class 8 truck has begun commercial grocery deliveries in British Columbia, marking a milestone in lower carbon freight.

By Dawn Mehrer, Fortis BC

OPINION

YOUR PERSPECTIVE: Innovation at work is powering British Columbia’s energy future through collaboration

Nov 20, 2025 | 8:39 AM

British Columbians expect a lot from their energy providers. We all want energy that is reliable, affordable and lower carbon. As our province grows, meeting British Columbia’s growing energy needs and climate goals will take innovation, practical solutions and collaboration to keep pace.

The way we produce, deliver and use energy is changing faster than at any time in recent history. Electrification, population growth and new technology are putting pressure on systems. At the same time, extreme weather events are testing the reliability of those systems. Balancing energy security with affordability and climate action has become one of B.C.’s defining challenges.

Innovation in energy isn’t about chasing the latest trends. It’s about finding practical solutions to real problems. That means helping people better manage their energy use, keeping systems resilient during storms, wildfires and heat waves, and planning for growth in ways that keep costs manageable for everyone. One recent example of this kind of innovation is the launch of B.C.’s first sustained commercial hydrogen-powered transport truck. In collaboration with Loblaw Companies Ltd., utilities and industry, this demonstration project is testing how hydrogen—a lower carbon fuel that offers the range and quick refuelling heavy freight requires—could play an important role in lower carbon transportation. Supported by FortisBC’s Clean Growth Innovation Fund, the truck has been operating regular retail routes between the Lower Mainland and Squamish. The project is collecting real-world data on performance, fuelling and operating conditions with the potential to help guide future hydrogen vehicle and infrastructure development in the province. It’s an early but important step in understanding where hydrogen can play a role.

Heavy-duty freight accounts for a significant share of transportation-related emissions, yet the sector’s unique energy demands make it one of the hardest to transition to lower carbon fuels. For B.C.’s freight and logistics industry, projects like this one have the potential to provide valuable insight into how emerging energy technologies can improve efficiency while lowering emissions. They also highlight the importance of pilot projects in generating data that can inform policy, guide investment and accelerate adoption where it makes sense.

Hydrogen is just one aspect of the energy transition. Across B.C., organizations are exploring innovations such as advanced metering, renewable and lower carbon gases like Renewable Natural Gas (RNG), and deep energy retrofits that improve building efficiency without displacing residents. Each initiative supports a shared goal: helping households and businesses use energy wisely, lower emissions and manage costs.

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Balancing reliability, affordability and sustainability requires planning, evidence and collective action. Governments, researchers and industry are increasingly working together to test new ideas and scale up those that prove effective. Continued progress depends on thoughtful policy, targeted investment and joint efforts that move potential breakthroughs from pilot to practical deployment.

The transition to a lower carbon energy future isn’t about a single technology or company. It’s about collaboration—sharing what works, learning from what doesn’t, and applying those lessons across sectors. By grounding innovation in research, testing and shared learning, B.C. can ensure new technologies strengthen the systems people rely on every day.

Dawn Mehrer is FortisBC’s vice president of corporate services and technology.

Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of Fraser Valley Today or Pattison Media.