First Nations and rural communities in B.C. looking to profit from partnerships with renewable energy companies have a new resource tool.
The new Green Energy website provides information on the economic opportunities that a boom in renewable energy is expected to provide in northern B.C.
Several run-of-river and wind power projects approved recently in B.C. have been in partnership with First Nations communities, and an industrial boom in northern B.C. is expected to provide opportunities for renewable energy projects – including biomass thermal power in areas affected by the mountain pine beetle.
The Green Energy project will include case studies of successful green energy projects. The first study published on the new website describes the successful commissioning of the District of Lake Country's new micro-hydro power plant.
The Green Energy project was created and funded by a coalition that includes the Cariboo-Chilcotin Beetle Action Coalition, Columbia Basin Trust, the Omineca Beetle Action Coalition, the Southern Interior Beetle Action Coalition, the federal government's Rural Partnership program and the provincial government's Mountain Pine Beetle Epidemic Response Branch.
"Interior rural communities and First Nations impacted by the mountain pine beetle epidemic are all interested in exploring how green energy development can contribute to regional and community economic growth and diversification," said Rhona Martin, Southern Interior Beetle Action Coalition chairwoman.
"This project provides information specific to rural communities and will assist with the feasibility assessment of various proposed green energy projects in the interior."
Williams Lake Mayor Kerry Cook said, "Investment in green energy as a tool for rural economic development is important for British Columbia. Our communities are focused on encouraging economic diversification to counter the devastating impacts of the mountain pine beetle epidemic on our communities."
Several mountain pine beetle action coalitions were formed in 2005 and 2006 to develop plans to help communities affected by the infestation, which has killed an estimated 710 million cubic metres of timber – 53% of B.C.'s commercially viable forests.
