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Funding provided for Halalt, Penelakut clean-energy projects

Total of 10 Island and Gulf Island communities supported by the Province
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The Penelakut Tribe and Halalt First Nation are among 10 Indigenous communities on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands joining 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.

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 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.

The Penelakut Tribe received $100,000 in equity funding to start Phase I of its community energy plan, which focuses on identifying energy-efficiency opportunities for residential and community buildings and renewable energy development.

The Halalt First Nation received $145,875 in 2021 in equity funding to support Phase III of an implementation project that promotes efficient energy consumption and savings.

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.

“We’re working to support First Nations in developing clean-energy alternatives, especially in remote communities,” noted Murray Rankin, minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation. “The First Nations Clean Energy Business Fund continues to be a great resource to strengthen Indigenous participation in the clean-energy sector and support energy-efficient, resilient communities in their transition to a low-carbon future.”

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Don Bodger

About the Author: Don Bodger

I've been a part of the newspaper industry since 1980 when I began on a part-time basis covering sports for the Ladysmith-Chemainus Chronicle.
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