February 2, 2022
2:00PM PT / 3:00PM MT / 5:00PM ET
Webinar Title: What is the BCICEI?
The BC Indigenous Clean Energy Initiative team gives a summary of their program including eligibility, funding, and project highlights. There will be a short film presented on one successful project and time set aside for questions and comments.
Agenda:
Introductions
Short presentation on BCICEI
Film - Link to film: • Xeni Gwet’in Community Electrificatio...
Q &A
BCICEI Description
Established in 2016, the British Columbia Indigenous Clean Energy Initiative (BCICEI) has supported 68 clean energy projects in 55 First Nation communities across the province. The BCICEI supports projects from the Feasibility Stage, where feasibility studies, site selection, environmental permitting, project design, and engineering costs are eligible, all the way up to the Pre-Construction and Pre-Commercial operation date stage of projects. BCICEI also supports community Demand Side Management projects such as heat pump installations or energy retrofits, and small-scale clean energy installations such as community building solar panels.
BCICEI was launched in 2016 as a collaboration between Pacific Economic Development Canada (PacifiCAN) (previously Western Economic Diversification Canada) and the New Relationship Trust (NRT) with $4.2M in funding through the Government of Canada’s Strategic Partnership Initiative (SPI) (Phase I of funding). In August 2019, the Government of Canada, the Province of British Columbia and NRT announced a further $9.5M in renewed funding to support the BCICEI for another three years.
Cole Sayers – Director of Clean Energy Initiatives
Cole Sayers, Director of Clean Energy Initiatives, is from the Hupacasath Nation. He has been leading the successful program delivery of the BC Indigenous Clean Energy Initiative since 2017. He is an advocate of Indigenous-led service delivery and collaborative models of governance to achieve common objectives. He draws on his background in political science and Indigenous knowledge to support First Nations in the renewable energy sector. He has experience evaluating the viability and benefits of proposed clean energy projects and is familiar with project financing in First Nations communities, including the early-stage development costs. Relationship building grounds his work. He is an effective liaison between governments, First Nations, crown corporation/utilities, and industry stakeholders, and he is committed to working with these groups to achieve effective program delivery specifically, and support sustainable, economic growth more generally. He is a strong advocate for First Nations involvement in the renewable energy, and he is committed to displacing diesel generation with renewable energy generation and energy efficiency measures in remote communities.
Selina Beltran – Associate Program Specialist
Selina Beltran is from Tsleil-Waututh Nation and works on the BCICEI team. Selina graduated from the University of Victoria with a Bachelor of Humanities with a major in Gender Studies. Selina has been working with BCICEI since January 2020 and focuses on supporting the BCICEI Director in program implementation and administration. Selina does the clerical services for the project files and programming in addition to data management, communications, and creating marketing materials. Selina is also on the board of directors for two small organizations, the Coastal Research, Education, and Advocacy Network (CREAN) and the Support Network for Indigenous Women and Women of Colour (SNIWWOC). CREAN is a non-profit organization dedicated to community-based research, education, and advocacy. SNIWWOC is a non-profit organization that focuses on reproductive justice and the empowerment of women in Victoria and Vancouver.
Sarah Powell - Associate Programs Delivery and Support
Sarah Powell is a member of the Taku River Tlingit First Nation and joined NRT in 2020. She graduated from the University of Victoria with a Social Science Degree, major in Geography, Minor in Indigenous Studies. Sarah works with BCICEI at the Associate level as a Program Analyst where she assists the Director in program implementation and administration. During the intake process, Sarah assists in the due diligence process where applications are assessed for viability. Outside of program intakes, Sarah assists in data management, communication with Nations, and Program reporting. Previously, Sarah worked within NRT’s education initiatives and corporate services. Sarah also participates in NRT and BCICEI outreach activities with external organizations.
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