É«ÖÐÉ«

VICTORIA — Seven remote First Nations in B.C. are on the receiving end of funding from the province to launch clean-energy projects focused on lowering emissions.

The province’s Community Energy Diesel Reduction (CEDR) program is providing $7.7 million and will be administered by the New Relationship Trust.

The clean-energy projects vary in size and scope, and include hydro, solar, biomass and hydrogen.

The Gitga’at First Nation is receiving $2 million to develop a small storage, run-of-lake 948-kilowatt hydroelectric generation facility that is expected to displace 95 per cent of diesel usage. The funding will support the community through the pre-construction and construction phases of the hydro project, a release reads.

The Ulkatcho First Nation will receive $1 million to support the creation of a 3.8-megawatt solar farm that is expected to reduce its community’s diesel usage by as much as 64 per cent.

The Uchucklesaht Tribe Government is receiving approximately $2.8 million to develop a battery energy-storage system that is essential for the construction of a 750-kilowatt solar-power system and a 250-kilowatt run-of river hydro-power system to remove more than 90 per cent of future demand for diesel in its village, the release continues.

Other funding initiatives include:

• The Dease River First Nation will receive $930,000 in support of a 550-kilowatt run-of-river hydro project in Good Hope Lake.
• Heiltsuk First Nation is receiving $200,000 for a pre-feasibility study on the viability of producing hydrogen through electrolysis to reduce its community’s reliance on diesel.
• Old Masset village council will receive $600,000 to install a biomass heating system for its local hospital and health centre.
• The Tahltan Nation will use $200,000 to complete a pilot project to install a small-scale solar-power system.