Hesquiat Harbour from Mt. Seghers (Hesquiaht First Nations)
The Hesquiaht First Nations community on the west coast of Vancouver Island is making the transition from diesel generators to hydropower.
The community in Hot Springs Cove does not have access to the B.C. Hydro grid, so a 350-kilowatt power plant on a creek is expected to replace 76 per cent of its diesel use and cut 627 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each year.
The province’s First Nations Clean Energy Business Fund has given the Hesquiaht $650,000 for the nearly $14-million dollar project, and the remaining funds will be provided by the federal government.
The First Nation has partnered with the Barkley Project Group to build the power plant, which is expected to be complete in March 2019.
The Canadian Press
The Canadian Press
