Two Haida communities have formed a partnership to develop renewable energy projects on Haida Gwaii.
Tll Yahda (Make It Right) Energy (TYE) is a 50/50 venture between the Skidegate Band Council (SBC) and Old Massett Village Council (OMVC) that eventually wants to eliminate Haida Gwaii’s dependence on diesel generation for power.
TYE is working with Atlantic Power, which owns the Moresby Lake Generating Station, and clean energy developer NRStor.
The Haida Gwaii Clean Energy Project would enable community ownership of the existing Morseby hydro asset and deploy new solar generation and energy storage.
The the first phase of the plan has already received $10.4 million from Natural Resources Canada.
The Councils say they plan to work with NRStor and Atlantic Power to:
- Recontract an existing hydro asset supplying clean power to Haida Gwaii’s south grid, enabling community ownership
- Expand the hydro asset to optimize and increase clean power generation
- Launch a jobs and training program for local involvement in the project
- Deploy new solar generation integrated with energy storage on Haida Gwaii’s north grid, which is currently served only by diesel generation
- Assess options for the deployment of future renewable energy technologies reducing diesel dependence, and design a comprehensive clean energy system that would achieve 100% renewable generation across Haida Gwaii
“It’s a very exciting time for Haida Gwaii and the timing is right to do our part as we move to Renewable Energy,” said Chief Councillor Billy Yovanovich, Skidegate Band Council in a news release.
“I think this is a great project to bring us back together as one Nation. I have great respect for Skidegate and the work they are doing,” said Chief Councillor Duffy Edgars, Old Massett Village Council. “This will get us all off diesel and get Haida Gwaii 100 percent green.”
The timeline for the project isn’t clear, but it’s hoped that it will become a model for community ownership of energy and diesel reductions in remote communities across Canada.
