Our newsletter: 19 December 2024
First, from us all at the First Nations LNG Alliance, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a terrific New Year to follow!
Where will BC and LNG find new power?
BC LNG developers want electrical power to run their plants.
Add to that booming power demands as governments at all levels seek to introduce more electric vehicles, electrify more industrial processes, and restrict the use of natural gas to generate electricity, heat buildings, and heat water.
Then to the above add the soaring power needs of Artificial Intelligence computer programs, and a growing population.
And, on top of all that, the BC government requires all proposed LNG facilities to have “a credible plan” to be net-zero for greenhouse-gas emissions by 2030, and for other new large industrial facilities the deadline is 2050 .
So BC simply needs one heck of a lot more electrical power.
The question is where will all this extra power come from — especially given that, thanks to drought conditions, BC Hydro has been importing more and more power from places that face their own power crunch.
- Read our blog: https://ow.ly/Wzg150UqFvK
BC OKs First Nation windfarms
Nine windfarm projects submitted to BC Hydro in its last “call for power” have been accepted, and all have First Nations partners. Eight will have 51% equity ownership.
Premier David Eby announced the green lights (photo above) and said: “These new projects will significantly expand our electricity supply – making B.C. a clean-energy superpower, while ensuring rates are affordable for people and for industries looking to expand.”
He also said BC will exempt all wind-power projects from BC environmental assessments, but will ensure First Nations interests and environmental protections are maintained.
- BC government news release: https://ow.ly/AUh650UqB3T
Indigenous energy news
- BC First Nations want in on power transmission development: https://ow.ly/n3sg50Unxvf (Photo above)
- Ottawa’s $1 billion for New Brunswick clean energy includes $25 million for wind project with Mi’kmaq First Nations: https://ow.ly/N9lq50Un9Jh
- See also: https://ow.ly/khKa50UpXsV
- Feds put up over $152 million for nine clean-electricity projects in Alberta, including ones with First Nations: https://ow.ly/k0B350Urkvn
- Construction complete on largest Indigenous-led energy project in Ontario: https://ow.ly/W4kH50UqAv2
- Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation in Ontario are ‘real partners’ in battery storage projects: https://ow.ly/FY9Z50UoybX
- Innu Nation to benefit from Churchill Falls power agreement between Newfoundland and Labrador and Quebec: https://ow.ly/gfwt50UrI14
- The Wah-ila-toos Indigenous Council publishes a report outlining policy recommendations and guidelines for integrating Indigenous voices in Canada’s climate strategy: https://ow.ly/R9Rf50UrkO1
- Applications are open until Jan. 31 for the 20/20 Catalysts program for clean-energy leaders, from Indigenous Clean Energy: https://ow.ly/IMrL50UrkQk
ALSO IN THE NEWS
- The head of the National Coalition of Chiefs, Dale Swampy, says Ottawa’s oil-and-gas emissions cap couldn’t come at a worse time for Indigenous communities. Learn more: https://ow.ly/kO5A50UoFwG
- Stephen Buffalo: The hits to First Nations oil and gas producers keep coming from Ottawa. How does the emissions cap affect First Nations? No one cares. https://ow.ly/CRmj50UorKs
- BC Hydro’s Indigenous wind-power projects are a step forward, but regulatory reform and transparency are still needed: https://ow.ly/Sr9t50UoGSX
- Canada’s gas brings Indigenous people new money, and old worries: https://ow.ly/p3eV50UqW9v By The New York Times
- Indigenous entrepreneurs are going global – and succeeding: Alliance CEO Karen Ogen joins Ken Coates of the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, and Matt Vickers, CEO of Northern Nations Cooperative, for Inside Policy Talks: https://youtu.be/k_Z3wGsCn1U
EVENTS
- Future Fuels Forum to ‘explore the future of hydrogen and sustainable energy solutions.’ Prince George, Jan. 13-14: https://ow.ly/6Nki50TE83B
- 22nd Annual BC Natural Resources Forum, Jan. 14-16, Prince George: https://ow.ly/BajJ50Tr1aU
- Greater Vancouver Board of Trade Economic Outlook Forum, Jan. 30, Vancouver: https://ow.ly/s7bw50Ujkrp
- National Coalition of Chiefs, Clean Energy Summit, Feb. 13-14, Tsuut’ina Nation, near Calgary: https://ow.ly/TT0350TYQyr
- Canadian Institute’s Western Indigenous Consultation & Engagement conference, Feb. 20-21, Edmonton: https://ow.ly/4MsG50TUBpb
- Canadian Gas Association Energy Security Summit, March 25-26, Ottawa: https://ow.ly/ozwT50TYNRA
- Nation2Nation Women’s Gathering, April 24-25, Kitimat BC: https://ow.ly/A8yo50SYpkv
- First Nations Major Projects Coalition, 8th annual conference, April 27–29, Toronto: https://ow.ly/jcSA50Ub44c
- National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association, Indigenous Prosperity Forum, May 7-8, Gatineau PQ. Details TBA.
- Global Energy Show Canada, June 10-12, Calgary: https://ow.ly/f6lS50Uk1zW
- Ninth Indigenous Resource Opportunities Conference, June 18-20, Nanaimo BC: https://ow.ly/m1rW50SHvIp
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(Posted here 01 January 2025 as it failed to post on 19 December 2024)