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By Liam Verster

Solar project on Upper Nicola Band Reserve

Provincial investment support Indigenous clean-energy project in the Interior

Jan 13, 2022 | 11:21 AM

A clean-energy project at an Indigenous community in the Interior is receiving provincial support.

The Okanagan Nation Alliance is receiving $500,000 from the First Nations Clean Energy Business Fund (FNCEBF) to establish a 15-megawatt utility-scale solar project on the Upper Nicola Band Reserve.

This project involves a multi-community partnership between the Upper Nicola Band and the Okanagan Nation Alliance in collaboration with FortisBC.

Once operational, the solar farm will produce enough electricity to power almost 5,000 homes, and will be interconnected with the B.C. Hydro distribution system.

The FNCEBF also supported two other projects in the Interior in 2021.

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Xwisten (Bridge River Indian Band) received $30,000 in capacity funding for a community energy plan, which will provide a comprehensive long-term plan to support energy resilience, improve energy efficiency, reduce energy costs, reduce emissions and foster innovative energy solutions.

Ulkatcho First Nation received $50,000 in capacity funding for West Chilcotin Forest Products’ clean-energy business plan, which is company owned and operated by the Ulkatcho First Nation.

Moving forward, the FNCEBF is resetting its capacity funding limit to $50,000 for all Indigenous communities to access clean-energy projects.