Our newsletter of 08 December 2022
Cedar LNG decision expected soon
Crystal Smith, the Haisla Nation’s elected chief councillor, told a Greater Vancouver Board of Trade forum on energy that she has high hopes for a green light from governments on the nation’s planned Cedar LNG project.
“I hope, when I return to next year’s energy forum, we are sharing the news that we have achieved a favorable financial investment decision on one of the world’s first indigenous majority owned LNG infrastructure projects.”
Business in Vancouver told its readers: “Whether or not Cedar LNG – the first LNG project to have a First Nation as a majority owner — gets the green light is now in the hands of provincial environment and energy ministers and a former member of Greenpeace – federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault.
“Their decisions on Cedar LNG are expected by the end of December.”
The newspaper noted that Cedar LNG has made it through the evaluation process of the BC Environmental Assessment Office.
The BCEAO has ruled that Cedar LNG “would not have significant adverse effects on GHG emissions,” and “could have a positive impact on GHG emissions globally,” by replacing coal to produce power overseas.”
And the agency also says: “Cedar LNG’s key mitigation measure to use B.C. Hydro’s clean grid electricity provides significant GHG emissions reductions and may offer further reductions as renewable electricity expands.”
- Business in Vancouver story: http://ow.ly/nGPT50LUEuc
- The BCEAO report: http://ow.ly/vep650Lj4px
- About Cedar LNG: http://ow.ly/1s4T50LUEt3
Clean electricity for BC LNG plants
The promise and prospect of using BC Hydro’s clean electricity for LNG projects such as Cedar LNG is driving a massive proposed expansion of Hydro’s transmission lines in northern BC.
The Smithers Interior News quoted Hydro: “The transmission system that supplies electricity in the region is limited and system upgrades, including new transmission lines, are needed to meet current and future customer demand and reliability requirements.”
The story added: “The full extent of the work contemplated would rival its last multi-year expansion in the northwest, the 344-kilometre long, 287-kilovolt Northwest Transmission Line which runs north from Terrace.”
Cedar LNG isn’t the only proposed northern LNG plant that will need clean power from BC Hydro. Another is the Ksi Lisims LNG project proposed by the Nisga’a Nation, which says it will be ‘fuelled by clean British Columbia hydropower.”
LNG Canada’s Phase One project at Kitimat was designed with turbines powered by natural gas, but the potential Phase 2 expansion (which is under active consideration) is eyeing electrical drives.
The small-scale Port Edward LNG project near Prince Rupert says it will be “entirely electrically driven.”
And, on Howe Sound in the south of BC, Woodfibre LNG will also be “powered by renewable hydroelectricity.”
- The Interior News story: http://ow.ly/YR2G50LUEQJ
- Ksi Lisims LNG: http://ow.ly/n9Nx50LUEQF
- Port Edward LNG: http://ow.ly/YfPU50LUEQI
- Woodfibre LNG: http://ow.ly/r3OC50LUEQH
One of several solar arrays at the T’Sou-ke Nation on Vancouver Island
First Nations leaders in clean energy
While two major LNG projects led by First Nations plan to use clean hydropower, there are many more examples of First Nations in BC (and elsewhere in Canada) taking the lead on clean and green projects.
We looked at a few in our last blog, covering projects involving hydroelectricity, solar, windpower, biomass, hydrogen and geothermal energy.
And we wrote: “The Pembina Institute . . . noted in a report earlier this year: ‘First Nations have played a vital role in Canada’s clean-energy economy for decades.
“In British Columbia alone, First Nations own, operate or co-partner 79 grid-tied renewable energy projects. Combined, these projects deliver 13% of B.C.’s electricity.”
And: “First Nations have invested millions of dollars in renewable energy projects, attracting capital independently and through partnerships with Independent Power Producer (IPP) companies.”
Among them, we noted, are 68 run-of-river hydro projects in BC. One pioneer example is from the Hupucasath Nation on Vancouver Island, which built its China Creek hydro project in 2005.
And in solar energy, the T’Sou-ke Nation installed solar power systems and solar hot water systems in 2009.
- Read the blog: http://ow.ly/NGXg50LUF6i
- Pembina Institute report: http://ow.ly/njrz50LUF6h
ALSO IN THE NEWS
- Business Council to Ottawa on new Indo-Pacific strategy: ‘‘The big miss here is on LNG.’ http://ow.ly/k3nk50LR4LU
- Canadian LNG exports could generate a ‘win-win-win.’ http://ow.ly/aEsF50LTyWy
- ‘We need to build the infrastructure and get our LNG to world markets. http://ow.ly/MpXx50LQCu3
- Sending our LNG to Asia could help Europe secure other LNG supplies: https://bit.ly/3TMpSym
- Enbridge completes the deal giving it 30% ownership in Woodfibre LNG: http://ow.ly/vEVz50LQCGP
- BC approves LNG Canada’s tugboat berth and fuelling area: http://ow.ly/UFLx50LQCve
DATES
January
- Clean Energy BC’s First Nations Energy Summit, Jan. 17-18, Vancouver. Info/register: http://ow.ly/xqWq50LLB2y
- The 20th annual BC Natural Resources Forum, Jan. 17-19, Prince George: http://ow.ly/4Irx50LyLRo
- Indigenous Nexus 2023, 25-26, Calgary: http://ow.ly/9oMv50Ly5YC
February
- National Coalition of Chiefs’ Clean Energy Summit, Feb. 16-17, Tsuut’ina Nation (near Calgary): http://ow.ly/xwmn50Lqhgg
- The seventh Indigenous Resource Opportunities Conference, Feb. 27-28, Nanaimo: https://www.bciroc.ca/
April
- The First Nation’s Major Projects Coalition’s Values Driven Economy Conference, April 24-25, Vancouver. Early-bird discount ends Dec. 15. http://ow.ly/aKUX50KKKnh
May
- Canada Gas and LNG Exhibition and Conference, May 9-11, Vancouver: http://ow.ly/YxcZ50LjFM1
- The Forward Summit 2023, May 17-18, Grey Eagle Resort & Casino near Calgary. Registration: http://ow.ly/Q8ZV50K7FYb (Note that there’s an Indigenous discount.)
June
- The Indigenous Partnerships Success Showcase 2023: June 1-2, Vancouver: http://ly/IZC850LH58j
- The Global Energy Show, June 13-15, Calgary: http://ow.ly/UvTL50LjFlM
September
- Carbon Capture Canada, Sept. 12-14, Edmonton: http://ow.ly/3iBP50LRo0R
October
- Nation2Nation’s next community session in Terrace BC, Oct. 17-19: https://nation2nation.ca/
2024
- The International Gas Research Conference, May 13-16. Our Karen Ogen-Toews is on the national organizing committee. Conference website: https://igrc2024.org/
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(Posted here 12 December 2022)
