Five Indigenous communities on the north and central coast will join B.C.’s clean-energy sector with local projects following support from the Province.
The Province is partnering with Indigenous communities throughout B.C. to work toward a low-carbon future by providing funding from the First Nations Clean Energy Business Fund (FNCEBF).
The fund helps develop clean-energy projects driven and owned by Indigenous communities in areas such as solar, ocean thermal, wind energy, biomass, run-of-river hydroelectric power, energy-efficiency planning and other clean energy-related areas. A key goal of the fund is to increase the participation of Indigenous communities in B.C.’s clean-energy sector.
The FNCEBF provides Indigenous communities with clean-energy support in the areas of studies and planning, equity funding and revenue sharing.
Two projects on Haida Gwaii have received funding under the FNCEBF: the Tll Yahda Energy solar-farm project with Skidegate First Nation and the Northern Haida Gwaii Hospital heating project supported by the Old Masset Village Council. The fund will provide each project $400,000 in equity funding, which will help Haida Gwaii shift from reliance on diesel-generated power to renewable energy.
Three other Indigenous communities located on the central and north coast received funding in 2021:
Heiltsuk First Nation — $29,012 in equity funding to complete the community heat pump initiative and reduce diesel reliance;
Kitselas First Nation — $500,000 in equity funding for Kitselas Geothermal Inc. to replace fossil fuels used for industrial heating with geothermal resources in the Fuel for Reconciliation project; and
Wuikinuxv Nation — $202,525 in equity funding to install a smart-energy metering and control system.
The FNCEBF is also resetting its capacity funding limit to $50,000 for all Indigenous communities to access for clean-energy projects.
In 2021, the fund provided more than $3.8 million to support new capacity and equity projects in 27 Indigenous communities throughout the province. The FNCEBF is accepting applications for the next intake until Jan. 31, 2022.
The FNCEBF aligns with the Province’s CleanBC Roadmap to 2030, which aims to create a balanced, sustainable future for climate action and the economy.
Quick Facts:
Since the FNCEBF began, more than 134 Indigenous communities have benefited from $18 million in capacity and equity funding.
In 2021, the FNCEBF distributed more than $8 million to Indigenous communities.
The FNCEBF provides equity funding to Indigenous communities:
as much as $500,000 for clean-energy projects;
as much as $150,000 in equity funding toward community energy projects such as energy-efficiency, demand-side management and small fuel-switching projects; and
as much as $50,000 in capacity funding for projects like community energy planning, feasibility studies or engagement with private-sector clean-energy project proponents.
Currently, 46 First Nations benefit from 71 clean-energy revenue-sharing agreements with B.C. that are based on new net, incremental revenue to government, derived from water rentals and land rents. Eventually, First Nations will also benefit from wind-participation rents.
Learn More:
First Nations Clean Energy Business Fund: http://ow.ly/JPz530apMVd
Clean Energy BC: www.cleanenergybc.org/
Heiltsuk heat pump project video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snD_ZG1D0eY&ab_channel=EcotrustCanada