Vancouver, Coast Salish Territory, British Columbia - Indigenous Services Canada
As part of Canada's commitments to reconciliation and the Strengthened Climate Plan, the federal government is working alongside First Nations, provincial and industry partners to support the British Columbia Indigenous Clean Energy Initiative (BCICEI).
Today, new investments of $10 million were announced for the BCICEI by Patty Hajdu, Federal Minister of Indigenous Services, Harjit S. Sajjan, Federal Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada, and Walter Schneider, CEO of the New Relationship Trust.
The BCICEI supports the development of clean energy projects in First Nations communities throughout British Columbia, while ensuring ownership, revenue sharing, local employment, and business development benefits are built into the process. The BCICEI initiative helps create opportunities for communities to increase self sufficiency while supporting remote, off-grid and end of line communities seeking to reduce dependency on conventional diesel power generation.
Since its inception in 2016, the BCICEI has seen success, supporting projects that have reduced over 400,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions, equivalent to taking over 128,000 cars off the road for a year. The initiative has also funded projects that together generate over 100,000 MWh annually, enough clean energy to power over 3,600 homes.
The federal government's new contribution of $10 million announced today flows through Indigenous Services Canada and will support initiatives such as the Hesquiaht Ahtaapq Creek Hydropower project. This First Nation-owned and operated hydropower facility and solar farm will provide clean energy to replace diesel and will save the community over $600,000 a year in diesel and maintenance costs.
