BC – In 2016, First Nations communities in BC received approximately $3.2 million through the First Nations Clean Energy Business Fund — more than $2.2 million through revenue-sharing agreements and nearly $1 million in capacity and equity funding.
Funding for capacity and equity projects is an application-driven process that supports First Nations communities with the development of clean-energy projects and the reduction of greenhouse-gas emissions. The funding program will accept applications for the next intake until Jan. 31, 2017. The program accepts applications in January and May.
This year, the BC government has funded nine capacity projects and three equity projects. The approved capacity projects range from identifying potential clean-energy projects within a First Nation’s traditional territory to conducting feasibility studies of a project in development. The three equity projects will help the remote communities of Kwadacha, Dease Lake and Xeni Gwet’in to reduce or end their reliance on greenhouse-gas-emitting energy sources.
The Dease Lake First Nation Energy Efficiency Project received an investment of $128,120. The project will see the community, just south of the Yukon border, complete an energy-efficiency retrofit on its homes that will include programmable thermostats, insulating hot-water pipes, installing water-saving showerheads, upgrading to LED lighting and replacing inefficient gas-fired furnaces.
In the remote community of Fort Ware, home to the Kwadacha Nation, 570 kilometres north of Prince George, an investment of $400,000 supports a combined heat-and-power bioenergy system to offset diesel generation. Heat generated by the system will be used for a district energy system while electricity generated will be sold to BC Hydro under a 20-year Electricity Purchase Agreement. The Kwadacha Nation will also receive $150,000 towards the project from the Province’s Community Energy Leadership Program.
In the Nemiah Valley, Xeni Gwet’in received $250,000 to begin an electrification project that will swap out their aging and inefficient gasoline and diesel generators for a more reliable hybrid system of solar power and propane. The First Nations Clean Energy Business Fund involvement in the community project supports affordable electricity in an area 90 kilometres from the nearest BC Hydro grid. It will be completed in two phases and will serve all homes in the community. The Xeni Gwet’in will also receive $36,000 towards the project from the Province’s Community Energy Leadership Program.
