The Ulkatcho First Nation and the Canoe Creek Indian Band will benefit from the first round of funding from the First Nations Clean Energy Business Fund.
The B.C. government says $40,000 in funding will enable the Ulkatcho First Nation to develop a feasibility study for a five mega-watt community based biomass project.
Another $40,000 in capacity funding will help the Canoe Creek Indian Band to investigate the natural and renewable energy resources available to them and the long-term benefits they might offer to the community.
The funding will be used for a range of activities from business planning and project management with the goal of helping develop sustainable communities.
This funding will support First Nation communities looking to transition from diesel power by promoting clean energy projects, including hydro, biomass and wind power.
“This funding will allow First Nations in the area to move away from more traditional ways of powering communities and move towards cleaner and more sustainable ways that will benefit the environment,” says Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett.
The First Nations Clean Energy Business Fund promotes increased First Nation participation in the clean energy sector through revenue sharing from eligible clean energy projects; equity funding of up to $500,000 for First Nations to invest in clean energy projects; and capacity development funding of up to $50,000, to support First Nations with feasibility studies or engagement with private sector proponents of clean energy projects.
The First Nations Clean Energy Business Fund was created to support First Nations and new power projects, with an initial contribution of $5 million from the province.