BC, Canada First Nation receives grant for geothermal heat project

Lakelse Lake, Terrace, British Columbia/ Canada (source: flickr/ Ryan McGilchrist, creative commons)

Five Indigenous communities in British Columbia have received funding from the First Nations Clean Energy Business Fund (FNCEBF) to develop clean-energy projects. Among these communities is the Kitselas First Nation who have received $500,000 in equity funding for geothermal industrial heating thru Kitselas Geothermal Inc.

“Kitselas First Nation is grateful to be supported by the B.C. Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation’s First Nations Clean Energy Business Fund for our renewable geothermal energy project Fuel for Reconciliation.” said Kitselas Geothermal Inc. Chair David Ty.

“Kitselas Geothermal Inc. has been developing this project since 2014 and has injected millions of dollars into the economy in and around our traditional territory near Terrace. The funding will be a tremendous help in progressing the project’s 2022 field season.”

“Decentralized energy projects have the potential to create local jobs, advance technology, develop skills and decrease the environmental impact of our energy choices. Fuel for Reconciliation is poised to deliver both geothermal energy and greenhouse gas reductions on the north coast, benefiting many stakeholders.” added Ty.

We have previously reported on the work of Kitselas Geothermal in the exploration of geothermal resources in Lakelse Lake. Four exploration wells had been drilled in Lakelse Lake, hitting a maximum temperature of 150 degrees Celsius in the deep reservoir.

A key goal of the FNCEBF is to promote the participation of Indigenous communities in developing the clean energy sector of BC. In 2021, more than $3.8 million in funding were provided to support new projects across 27 Indigenous communities in the province. The fund is currently accepting applications for the next round until January 31, 2022.

Source: British Columbia Government News