BC Indigenous Clean Energy Initiative Propels British Columbia Toward a Net Zero Future
November 27, 2024
As stewards of the land for thousands of years, Indigenous people are finding solutions for clean energy and fighting climate change. With the BC Indigenous Clean Energy Initiative, First Nations in B.C. are launching new clean energy projects, reducing diesel usage, and generating nearly 1,400 jobs throughout the province.
Climate disasters, including forest fires and floods, have had a devastating impact in recent years. Today’s efforts to combat climate change and achieve net zero emissions will mean a cleaner, safer future for generations to come.
First Nations communities across British Columbia are making this vision a reality, while advancing new opportunities in the economy of the future.
The BC Indigenous Clean Energy Initiative (BCICEI) supports the development of clean energy projects in First Nations communities throughout British Columbia, while ensuring ownership, revenue sharing, local employment and business development benefits are built into the process. The Initiative helps create opportunities for communities to increase self sufficiency while reducing dependency on conventional diesel power generation.
Since 2016, BCICEI has delivered $26 million to support over 100 clean energy projects in First Nations in British Columbia. As a result, the Initiative has:
- reduced enough CO2 emissions to take the equivalent of 128,000 cars off the road for a year
- generated enough clean energy to power over 3,600 homes
- reduced diesel usage by over 2.8 million litres annually
- created nearly 1,400 jobs across the province
Recently, PacifiCan and Indigenous Services Canada announced an additional $3.9 million to help 14 more Indigenous communities develop new clean energy projects through BCICEI.
