Nine of 21 clean-energy projects submitted to BC Hydro in its last ‘call for power’ have been accepted, and all have First Nations partners.
Eight of the nine will have 51% equity ownership. And Hydro adds: “This represents $2.5 billion to $3 billion of ownership by First Nations in new renewable-energy projects in the province.”
Adrian Dix, minister of energy and climate solutions, said: “We are boosting our power supply by 8 per cent. And if that sounds familiar, it is the same amount Site C will contribute to the grid.”
Premier David Eby went on to say that BC plans to exempt the wind projects — and future wind projects — from a B.C. environmental assessment, but will ensure First Nations interests and environmental protections are maintained.
The nine:
Boulder and Elkhart Wind Project
- Proponent: Elkhart Wind Limited Partnership
- IPP (Independent Power Producer) partner: Elemental Energy
- First Nation partner: Upper Nicola Band
- Project size in megawatts (MW): 94
- Regional system: South Interior West
Brewster Wind Project
- Proponent: Brewster Wind Inc.
- IPP partner: Capstone Infrastructure
- First Nation partner: Wei Wai Kum First Nation
- Project size (MW): 197
- Regional system: Vancouver Island
Highland Valley Wind Project
- Proponent: Highland Valley Wind Inc.
- IPP partner: Capstone Infrastructure
- First Nation partner: Ashcroft Indian Band
- Project size (MW): 197
- Regional system: South Interior West
K2 Wind Project
- Proponent: K2 Wind Power Inc.
- IPP partner: Innergex Renewable Energy Inc.
- First Nation partner: Westbank First Nation
- Project size (MW): 160
- Regional system: South Interior West
Mount Mabel Wind Project
- Proponent: Mount Mabel Wind Inc.
- IPP partner: Capstone Infrastructure
- First Nation partner: Lower Nicola Indian Band
- Project size (MW): 143
- Regional system: South Interior West
Nilhts’I Ecoener Project
- Proponent: Nilhts’I Ecoener Energy Corp
- IPP partner: Ecoener
- First Nations partner: Lheidli T´enneh
- Project Size (MW): 140
- Regional system: Central Interior
Nithi Mountain Wind Project
- Proponent: General Partnership
- IPP partner: Innergex Renewable Energy Inc.
- First Nation partner: Stellat’en First Nation
- Project size (MW): 200
- Regional system: North Coast
Stewart Creek Wind Project
- Proponent: Stewart Creek Power Inc.
- IPP partner: Innergex Renewable Energy Inc.
- First Nation partner: West Moberly First Nation
- Project Size (MW): 200
- Regional system: Peace
Taylor Wind Project
- Proponent: Taylor Wind Project Inc.
- IPP partner: EDF Renewables
- First Nation partner: Saulteau First Nations
- Project size (MW): 200
- Regional system: Peace
The Nilhts’I Ecoener project (No. 6 in the list above) is a partnership between the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation and Ecoener. a Spanish renewable-energy company. It will have 18 wind turbines east of Hixon, roughly 60 kilometres south of Prince George.
BC government news release: https://ow.ly/eZ8A50UnXws
(Photo by Pattern Development of the Meikle wind farm in BC, not one of the nine new projects)
