It’s an exciting day for Peters First Nation as they look for new ways to bring clean-energy to their members.
The community has received $50,000 from the First Nations Clean Energy Business Fund (FNCEBF) to help develop a plan to lower utility costs for its members and stabilize access to telecommunication networks during emergencies.
“Thank you to the Province for funding the First Nation’s clean-energy project,” said Peters First Nation Chief Norma Webb in a press release. “The initiative will be very helpful and educating for the community members and will help to improve energy efficiency for each home, assess lighting and appliances, and provide sealed windows and good air flow. I am once again very grateful.”
The news was officially announced by the B.C. government on Thursday morning (April 27) along with other Indigenous communities who also received funding for their own clean-energy projects. The funding is part of the government’s initiative to help Indigenous communities, who they’ve partnered to develop projects that align with the CleanBC plan “to reduce climate-changing emissions.”
In addition to Peters, FNCEBF has also given funding to Hiy̓ám̓ ta Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Housing Society, Osoyoos Indian Band, and Nlaka’pamux Nation Tribal Council.
According to the government, the FNCEBF “supports clean-energy projects led by Indigenous communities, such as harnessing solar energy, installing heat pumps and energy-efficiency planning.” The fund is meant to promote participation from Indigenous communities in creating clean-energy options within the communities “asserted traditional territories and treaty areas.”
For this round of funding, nine First Nation communities in B.C. received “$1.4 million through the fund, which includes nearly $1 million of one-time funding for projects.”
READ MORE: New movie from Peters First Nation filmmaker now available on iTunes
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