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Because the First Nations LNG Alliance, we naturally comply with and share a lot information about liquefied pure fuel, and the way it will help carry down world greenhouse-gas emissions.
However there’s far more than that on the green-and-clean entrance, as First Nations — stewards of the setting since time immemorial — take the lead in producing fashionable clear and renewable vitality.
We glance at present at just some examples in Western Canada and British Columbia the place we’re primarily based.
The Pembina Institute, which has been urgent for some 35 years for a clean-energy future in Canada, famous in a report earlier this yr: “First Nations have performed an important function in Canada’s clear vitality financial system for many years.
“In British Columbia alone, First Nations personal, function or co-partner 79 grid-tied renewable vitality initiatives. Mixed, these initiatives ship 13% of B.C.’s electrical energy.
“Indigenous Folks personal quite a few renewable-energy initiatives in distant communities with further initiatives in improvement. Most are small-scale hydro, photo voltaic, wind or bioenergy initiatives.
“First Nations have invested thousands and thousands of {dollars} in renewable vitality initiatives, attracting capital independently and thru partnerships with Unbiased Energy Producer (IPP) firms.”
Some examples comply with; it’s under no circumstances a complete checklist.
HYDRO
Some 200 distant and small communities in Canada depend on diesel-generated energy. Indigenous ventures have been working for years to exchange diesel with cleaner LNG or run-of-river hydro-electricity initiatives.
In BC, there are 68 run-of-river initiatives. BC Hydro.
One pioneer instance is from the Hupucasath Nation on Vancouver Island, which constructed its China Creek hydro undertaking 17 years in the past.
One other early chief, the Squamish Nation labored with developer BluEarth Renewables on the Culliton Creek hydro undertaking, commissioned in 2016. In time, the Squamish will turn out to be full homeowners. Additionally in Squamish territory, BluEarth operates the Furry Creek hydro facility 50 km northwest of Vancouver and the McNair Creek hydro undertaking, 40 km north of Vancouver.
The shíshálh (Sechelt) Nation labored in partnership with BluEarth on the Narrows Inlet hydro undertaking, which has two run-of-river producing vegetation, and on the Tyson Creek hydro undertaking 40 km north of Sechelt BC.
As properly, BluEarth runs the Dasque-Center hydro facility close to Terrace (with assist from the Kitselas and Metlakatla nations and the Lax Kw’alaams Band).
The largest run-of-river undertaking in BC is the Toba Montrose operation north of Powell River. Profit agreements had been reached with the Klahoose First Nation, the Tla’amin Nation, and the shíshálh (Sechelt).
The Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations on Vancouver Island constructed the Canoe Creek hydro undertaking, which might produce sufficient electrical energy for nearly 2,000 properties. ‘All the electrical energy we generate is offered underneath a long-term contract to BC Hydro and is used right here on Vancouver Island.’
The Hesquiaht First Nation constructed the the Ah’ta’apq Creek hydro undertaking at Sizzling Springs Cove close to Tofino. It went into operation in 2021, and shortly saved the nation $375,000 in diesel payments.
Close to Zeballos on Vancouver Island, the Ehattesaht First Nation owns 20% of a run-of-river producing station on Barr Creek. It has a 40-year contract to promote vitality to BC Hydro — and in time Ehattesaht will likely be 100% homeowners.
Extra run-of-river initiatives are being thought-about, amongst them plans by the Uchucklesaht Tribe on Vancouver Island. However improvement in BC has been held up by BC Hydro’s current reluctance to decide to long-term purchases of energy from unbiased producers.
SOLAR
A trail-blazer is the T’Sou-ke Nation on Vancouver Island. It put in solar energy methods and photo voltaic sizzling water methods as early as 2009.
“In the summertime, the group sells surplus photo voltaic electrical energy to BC Hydro, and within the winter buys it again to achieve zero consumption (and prices) over the entire yr. Hydro payments have plummeted for group members.”
Then the T’Sou-ke added a solar-backed charging station for electrical autos. (To not point out three industrial greenhouses. And the T’Sou-ke have additionally explored the potential of energy from wind and ocean waves.)
The Tsleil-Waututh Nation constructed Metro Vancouver’s greatest solar energy undertaking, which powers the nation’s administrative constructing in North Vancouver.
The Tŝilhqot’in Nationwide Authorities accomplished in 2020 a photo voltaic farm on two hectares of an previous sawmill web site on Tŝilhqot’in land, close to Hanceville BC, southwest of Williams Lake. It creates sufficient energy to serve some 135 properties. And it has a 25-year settlement to promote energy to the BC Hydro grid.
The Westbank First Nation topped off renovation of its group college with 300 roof-mounted photo voltaic panels. That aimed to chop the college’s vitality utilization to 25% of its earlier consumption.
The undertaking had some funding from BC’s First Nations Clear Power Enterprise Fund, which helps First Nations take part within the clean-energy sector and scale back reliance on diesel energy. The fund has helped greater than 136 Indigenous communities with virtually $19 million in capability and fairness funding.
WIND POWER
The primary wind farm in BC was the Bear Mountain Wind Park close to Dawson Creek, that includes 34 generators. It started delivering energy in 2009. Although we may discover no particulars of Indigenous involvement then, there was some session with the West Moberly, and Saulteau Nations, the McLeod Lake Band, and the Kelly Lake Cree Nation (As’in’î’wa’chî Ni’yaw).
BC’s largest wind farm is the Meikle operation between Chetwynd and Tumbler Ridge. Run by Sample Power, it has 61 generators, which might produce sufficient energy to serve some 54,000 properties.
It’s on Treaty 8 territory: Doig River First Nation, Midway River First Nation, McLeod Lake Indian Band, Saulteau First Nations, and West Moberly First Nations. “The involvement and assist of Indigenous Peoples . . . have been elementary to the power’s success.”
Then there’s the Cape Scott wind farm west of Port Hardy on Vancouver Island. It began up in 2013 with 55 generators, able to producing energy for 30,000 Vancouver Island properties. Some related building of roads and earthworks was carried out by the Kwakiutl, Quatsino, and Tlatlasikwala Nations.
In an earlier wind undertaking in BC, Midway River, West Moberly, Saulteau, and the McLeod Lake Band signed MOUs in 2009 for the 48-turbine Dokie Wind undertaking, 40 km west of Chetwynd.
And final yr, West Moberly First Nations opened the Zonnebeke wind farm, with 4 generators close to Chetwynd that may produce sufficient vitality to energy 5,800 properties. It was constructed with Pure Forces, an unbiased energy producer primarily based in Nova Scotia.
Zonnebeke was developed in tandem with the close by Sukunka Power Venture, 4 generators put in as a partnership between Saulteau First Nations and Pure Forces. Sukunka may also produce sufficient energy for five,800 properties.
After which there’s one other long-proposed wind big: Off the coast of Haida Gwaii in Hecate Strait, Northland Energy proposes an offshore wind undertaking that may harness “a number of the world’s strongest and most constant winds” to offer clear renewable vitality.
The undertaking has been on the agenda of potential buyers — and the Haida Nation — since 2009. At that time, prices had been estimated at $2 billion to put in 110 generators in Hecate Strait. That would present sufficient energy for Haida Gwaii, and, by way of BC Hydro’s grid, for one thing like 120,000 properties.
BIOMASS
The West Moberly First Nations and Saulteau First Nations use biomass for his or her Twin Sisters Native Crops Nursery at Moberly Lake.
Up in Haida Gwaii, sawmill and forest waste heats group buildings: At Port Clements, the multi-plex constructing, college, council chambers, hearth corridor and different municipal buildings. At Outdated Massett Village, biomass heats all of the group buildings.
HYDROGEN
The newest undertaking is an settlement among the many Lax Kw’alaams, the Metlakatla, the Metropolis of Prince Rupert, and Sample Power, to discover the feasibility of a hydrogen facility on Watson Island — a plant that may be absolutely powered by wind vitality.
Earlier, the Fort Nelson Nation started working with Hydrogen Naturally Inc. on a feasibility examine for a $1.2-billion plant that would produce as much as one million tonnes a yr of hydrogen. It might redevelop the previous Canfor sawmill in Fort Nelson.
In Alberta, which has plentiful pure fuel that may be processed into hydrogen, the Cree Nation will likely be part of the proposed Edmonton hydrogen hub. Chief Billy Morin says: “To us, hydrogen represents a transition and a possibility to construct off the teachings realized on how First Nations had been wronged previously through the oil and fuel period. Hydrogen represents a clear slate and First Nations are able to take part.”
(And on the East Coast, the Miawpukek First Nation and an Australian firm are a hydrogen undertaking. It might then add nitrogen, from the air, to the hydrogen to supply virtually one million tonnes of inexperienced ammonia per yr. The ammonia can then be shipped and used as is, or will be shipped and reconverted to hydrogen.)
GEOTHERMAL
Tu Deh-Kah Geothermal, owned by the Fort Nelson First Nation, is within the early phases of improvement in northeastern BC. First estimates are that it may produce sufficient electrical energy to energy 14,000 properties. The Nation can also be wanting the potential for warmth to supply agricultural merchandise.
This geothermal vitality can also be behind the Liard Sizzling Springs close to Fort Nelson. Due to BC being on the Pacific Ocean “Ring of Fireplace,” the world has substantial geothermal potential, and properly over 100 exploration wells have been drilled.
BC Hydro has recognized 16 potential geothermal websites in BC, together with ones close to Pemberton, Valemount, Squamish and Prince Rupert. And the Canadian Geothermal Power Affiliation says: “British Columbia has huge potential to supply geothermal energy. There’s a adequate potential to satisfy your entire province’s energy demand.”
And search for some improvement in Yukon, too. The Little Salmon Carmacks First Nation has an settlement with an Alberta-based firm to faucet geothermal potential beneath its land.
One in every of a number of photo voltaic arrays on the T’Sou-ke Nation on Vancouver Island
(Posted right here 30 November 2022)
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