The province of BC announced today that the Gitga'at First Nation of Hartley Bay will be receiving $250,000 for a clean energy project in the community.
The money, which is equity funding for the project, will be used to support the construction and operation of a hydroelectric facility that would virtually eliminate Hartley Bay's dependence of diesel.The money was part of $610,000 in funding announced today from the First Nations Clean Energy Business Fund
"Hartley Bay has been working to develop a clean energy solution for our community for many years in keeping with traditional and cultural practices of caring for the environment...The Gitga'at see this as another step in reaching our goal of developing a clean energy solution for the community and thanks the Province for their support," said Gitga'at chief Arnold Clifton, noting that the community still has much work to do.
"The First Nations Clean Energy Business Fund has been supportive of this initiative since the inception of the fund. The equity contribution represents about one per cent of our projected costs."
The government notes that the hydroelectric would also create economic opportunities for Hartley Bay in the way of selling power to BC Hydro for resale to Hartley Bay residents.