Skidegate Band Council and Old Massett Village Council create new Partnership, Tll Yahda Energy. “Tll Yahda”, Make It Right.
PRESS RELEASE
Skidegate Band Council and Old Massett Village Council create new Partnership, Tll Yahda Energy. “Tll Yahda”, Make It Right.
May 28, 2019 – We, the Skidegate Band Council (SBC) and Old Massett Village Council (OMVC), are pleased to announce our 50/50 partnership, Tll Yahda Energy (TYE) to initiate, develop and own renewable energy projects on Haida Gwaii, moving toward the goal of 100% clean renewable energy, eliminating all diesel generation and diesel fuel shipments for power production.
TYE is working with the existing Moresby Lake Generating Station (MLGS) hydro asset owner, Atlantic Power, and clean energy developer, NRStor, to undertake this vision through a phased approach. This project, supported by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), is a significant step forward in community leadership on energy that will result in significant diesel reductions on Haida Gwaii as well as local economic benefits.
“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.
“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.”
We are a strong community, surrounded by beautiful and bountiful land and waters on Haida Gwaii; strong in our traditional laws, foods, protocol, and our connections to each other. Nothing affects just one person; it affects all of us. We also face challenges and we must come together to find ways to overcome these obstacles.
This project aims to be a framework by which the Skidegate and Old Massett communities are able to determine the future use of our land and waters, identify future development opportunities, and how to sustain the land-based livelihoods that have always been a part of life on Haida Gwaii.
Haida livelihoods have historically been intricately connected to the land and waters of Haida Gwaii, which are abundant with food, medicines and resources that have sustained us since time immemorial. In more recent years, there are very real challenges and threats to the environment of Haida Gwaii and to the ways of life that depend on the land and waters. To continue to protect the land and waters we must also carefully select the numerous opportunities for community and economic development.
This Haida Gwaii Clean Energy Project is an important priority for us to take ownership over our energy future, and deploy clean energy solutions that will result in positive impacts for our community and environment. We have built trusted relationships with the right partners that confirm our ability to execute on this project and achieve our shared vision of 100% renewable energy on Haida Gwaii.
The first phase of the project will enable community ownership of an existing hydro asset and deploy new solar generation and energy storage, enabling significant community ownership and local economic as well as environmental benefits to be achieved. The partners are pleased to kick off this first phase of the project with support from Natural Resource Canada, which provided $10.4 million in funding for the project.
“Remote Indigenous communities know first hand the very real challenges of a changing climate,” said the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources. “This investment will help Canada reach its climate goals by
helping communities shift away from diesel towards cleaner energy sources that offer meaningful opportunities for employment in the community.”
SBC, OMVC, NRStor and Atlantic Power are jointly working 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
“Atlantic Power is excited to be partnered with TYE in this important effort to achieve 100% clean energy for Haida Gwaii,” said Nick Galotti, VP, Commercial Development for Atlantic Power. “We believe our Moresby Lake hydro facility can play a significant role in ensuring the availability of clean energy on Haida Gwaii for years to come.”
“NRStor is extremely pleased to be working with SBC and OMVC on this important clean energy project,” said Jason Rioux, VP and Chief Councillor Development Officer of NRStor. “SBC and OMVC have developed a strong partnership and a vision for clean energy projects that will deliver local environmental and economic benefits.”
This project provides an exciting model that can be adapted to achieve community ownership of energy and diesel reductions across Canada’s remote communities.
Gina ‘waadluxan gud ad kwaagid | Gin ‘waadluwaan gud ahl kwagagiidang | Everything Depends On Everything Else
About the Skidegate Band Council
Elected by the community every two years, the Skidegate Band Council is the administrative and governing body of Skidegate. The Council is responsible for negotiating with governments, implementing programs, monitoring finances and managing the social and political issues that arise in the community. The Council is made up of seven Councillors and one Chief Councillor.
About the Old Massett Village Council
The Old Massett Village Council is the administrative and governing body of (Old Massett) Gaw Tlagee and (New Town) Tlaga Gaawtlaas. The Village of Old Massett is on the northern shore of Graham Island, the largest and most northern island of X̱AAYDAG̱A GWAAY.YAAY (Haida Gwaii). Old Massett and New Town is home to Gaw Xaadée (Old Massett People) who previously occupied a number of different villages in their clans territory.
About Atlantic Power
Atlantic Power is an independent power producer that owns power generation assets in nine states in the United States and two provinces in Canada. The generation projects sell electricity and steam to investment-grade utilities and other creditworthy large customers predominantly under long-term PPAs. The projects are diversified by geography, fuel type, technology, dispatch profile and customers. The majority of the projects in operation are 100% owned and directly operated and maintained by the Company.
About NRStor
NRStor is a renewable energy and energy storage project developer dedicated to partnering with remote off-grid Indigenous communities to reduce dependence on diesel fuel. NRStor works to develop, finance, co-own and -operate industry-leading clean energy projects in partnership with progressive Northern communities and Indigenous organizations.
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