RELATED VIDEO: The carbon tax is going up by a lot and could hit 37 cents per litre of gas, by 2030. By then, the expectation is far more people will be driving electric vehicles. But as Christa Dao reports, the supply and affordability of such vehicles are major roadblocks – Mar 1, 2023A new study says converting B.C. restaurants from natural gas to electric-only would cost $800,000 per establishment in construction, equipment costs and lost business.
To break down the costs, the study says for a 3,500-square-foot restaurant $450,810 would be the price for construction, renovation and new equipment. Add in the business interruption costs of $340,000, it brings the total to $890,810. “ believe that municipalities, which are imposing natural gas and renewable natural gas bans years ahead of the provincial 2030 plan, are going to cause serious negative economic impact and job losses on restaurants but also on other small and medium-sized businesses – without any significant reduction in carbon emissions or any improvement in air quality,” Tieleman said.
The study also raises other questions, including whether existing BC Hydro electrical grids can handle a significant increase in power, especially in areas where multiple restaurants are located.