Funding Delivered to Two First Nations in the Region for Clean Energy Plans
Prince George, B.C.- Two First Nations in the north have received funding from the Province through the First Nations Clean Energy Business Fund (FNCEBF).
The Nak’azdli Indian Band will receive $30,000 to conduct a community energy plan within their traditional territory. The plan will give the Band an action plan to move into the clean energy sector.
The Lake Babine Nation Biomass Heating and Job Creation Program will receive $40,000. The funds will be used to conduct a feasibility study consisting of an engineering feasibility assessment for a proposed district biomass heating system using wood chips, as well as a job-targeted skill training program within the community.
The two funding announcements are among a dozen announced by the Government today.
Comments
I wonder how many of the other organizations are receiving grants to do feasibility studies on wind mills. I hope none. Its a waste of money and the cost of producing power is extremely high. Many governments in Europe are trying to get the EU to end subsidies on these types of energy because of the high cost to consumers. Bear Mountain wind farm produces power for the BC Hydro grid and the cost is in the neighborhood of $0.60/kwh as opposed to $0.06/kwh at WAC dam. Go figure. Who are the benefactors of these projects? The investors, not the consumers.
Who is doing the clean energy plan? Who is qualified to do it? Who is accountable for these projects? The Government? Or the Bands?
At least there are some native bands that are forward thinking economically.
“Funding delivered”….Nice way to use other peoples money. Emphasise on OTHER. Carry on.
First Nations will always be interested in clean green energy sources. They are champions of the environment and see the threat to drinking water fracking for Natural Gas can cause. They see the destruction to the environment Tar Sands development and oil spills can do.
But, there will always be someone who thinks this effort of their’s is a waste of time and money. If it is good for the environment and produces energy, more “power” to them!
Some will agree to mines and such developments with conditions attached. If the agreements are for training which leads to employnment, good. If its just to get free money even tho its not on their native teritory, these natives suck big time and are “gold diggers”.
DPJ, what does your comment have to do with this news story about Clean Energy Plans?… oh that’s right, there is a First Nations component to it, which opens the door for you, and others, to sh*t all over them!
Anyone who wants to discuss Clean Energy Plans and First Nations, let me know.
Its related to your previous comment before mine People#1. Also related to this article that these native reserve want to have jobs and be truely self sufficient instead of getting handouts from the rest of the population in terms of welfare.
Harbinger wrote: “Funding delivered”….Nice way to use other peoples money.”
You know, of course, that this will go to one or more engineering firms who are unlikely to have a First Nations person involved on the technical side.
DPJ “If the agreements are for training which leads to employnment, good”
Does not look like it from the description. I do not know what is being done to get more technical and professional First Nations involved with such projects. Maybe it is improving over a decade and more ago.
Would be really nice to know and, if there are enough First Nations technical/professional people around, then is should become a requirement in the RFPs.
People#1 wrote: “First Nations will always be interested in clean green energy sources. They are champions of the environment and see the threat to drinking water fracking for Natural Gas can cause.”
As with any other group, there is a spectrum of people among First Nations.
First Nations log … in fact, that is where some of the logs which are exported come from.
First Nations work in the oil and gas fields. I doubt they will all only work on conventional drilling project.
In 2010, Aboriginal companies performed C$1.3 billion in contract work with oil sands companies (not including construction-related jobs) and more than 1700 Aboriginal people were directly employed in oil sands operations.
People#1 …. you are simply an idealist who sees First Nations through rose coloured glasses.
Here is part of the real story from the oil sands in Alberta:
Over the past 12 years, Aboriginal-owned companies have secured more than C$5 billion worth of contracts from oil sands companies in the region.
For example, Shell Canada has spent more than C$1 billion on contracts with Aboriginal companies since 2005, and Cenovus Energy has tripled its investment in Aboriginal-owned businesses over the last two years, from C$86 million to C$245 million.
A joint venture between the Bigstone Cree Nation and Bronco Energy is the biggest oil sands project ever undertaken on First Nations reserve lands.
https://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GGLS_enCA546CA546&q=first+nations+work+on+oil+sands
Sorry, that direct link should be:
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=4&ved=0CDwQFjAD&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nrcan.gc.ca%2Fenergy%2Fsites%2Fwww.nrcan.gc.ca.energy%2Ffiles%2Ffiles%2FOS-Aboriginal_e.pdf&ei=I1ZvUsyMFaOEyAGV7YDgDg&usg=AFQjCNFktPOE8PyUaTr8VWRvVwSTtNEwTQ&bvm=bv.55123115,d.aWc
People#1 sees everything through rose colored glasses. Anyhow isn’t hydro power clean energy?
I guess we can get into posting website links that support our differing points of view.
Pembina has worked with more than 50 First Nations on natural and renewable energy whose total populations dwarf the 1700 individual Aboriginals employed in the Tar Sands.
http://www.pembina.org/re/work/first-nations
The BC government has announced 11 more First Nation clean energy Project in BC.
http://www.mwpr.ca/go9677a/BC_GOVERNMENT_FUNDS_NUMEROUS_FIRST_NATION_ENERGY_PROJECTS
You can use the 1700 Aboriginal workers in the Tar Sands all you want, it does not change the fact the First Nations Governments and communities are embracing clean renewable energy, so congratulations to them. :-D
“Aboriginal Power fuses Aboriginal prosperity with a more resilient energy supply. It presents a future wherein our First Peoples play a central role in the development of clean-energy resources.”
http://aboriginalpower.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=137&Itemid=339&lang=en
Wow even more First Nations embracing clean renewable energy! So proud of them. The following Assembly of First Nation document titled; “MITIGATING CLIMATE CHANGE – Community Success in Developing Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Projects”, list some of those fantastic projects!!
http://www.afn.ca/uploads/files/env/07-03-31_health_canada_climate_change_report-_final.pdf
I suppose the lesson here would be there are always exceptions to the rule. You can point out the odd exception, but the overwhelming evidence (rule) is that First Nations in this country are actually showing us the way to clean renewable energy!
Nice chatting with you gus.
People#1 how come you never answer the questions I put to you. Been reading Suzuki’s playbook have you?
So just how does man’s contribution, 3% of total c02 cook the planet?
How will a costly inefficient run of the river plant which will still need diesel backup save the planet when China puts a new coal fired generating plant on line at the rate of one a week, average?
Burning wood chips is ‘clean’ energy? I think not. Anyways, the Indians of the Babine would be better served by contacting Premium pellet in Vanderhoof if they want efficient biomass heat. There is no need to study if it works.
I am also wondering if we could get an analysis of how much money the City is saving from their own biomass burning program…
With all these aggreements with the natives yesterday, should keep them quiet for a while.
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