Notley government gives Indigenous companies opportunity in green energy

The provincial government has committed to a favourable process for Indigenous bids on green energy projects.

“Indigenous participation… was something we wanted to ensure we were doing throughout, the sort of the growth, of the green economy such that the new economy does not replicate the social and economic exclusions of the old,” said Environment and Parks Minister Shannon Phillips.

Alberta’s climate change advisory panel, chaired by Andrew Leach, recommended that “the government introduce a premium in the adjudication of bids for projects that partner with rural, First Nations and Metis communities.”

“Dr. Leach made a recommendation that we allow for, in the bid process, Indigenous participation as part of the bidding process and that was a recommendation we quite liked,” said Phillips.

Nicole Bourque-Bouchier, CEO of Bouchier Group, applauds the government’s focus on Aboriginal-specific opportunities.

“I think it’s a phenomenal opportunity for growing Aboriginal businesses,” she said.

Bouchier Group is a leading provider of integrated site services to the Athabasca Oil Sands region. It is now one of the largest Aboriginal-owned and operated companies in the area providing contracting, construction, maintenance, and general site services. It is not involved in any green energy projects at this point, but that could change.

“One of the things we’re always looking at is how do we venture outside of our region and how do we expand on the growing technologies and get out there and grow the business into other areas,” said Bourque-Bouchier.

Already, green energy is something that Indigenous communities have embraced.

The Keepers of the Athabasca worked with Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation’s Housing and Special Projects last year to install solar panels on the roof of the Elders lodge, which feed into batteries to store power.

“If we’re telling people there’s a timeline to fossil fuels and to show them how destructive it is, what are we telling them to do instead?” said Jesse Cardinal, coordinator with the Keepers of the Athabasca.  “Now as Keepers, we’re finally able to spend some time on solutions as well.”

This past May, Montana First Nation partnered with Bullfrog Power for the construction of a 20-kW solar installation on the First Nation’s water treatment plant in Maskwacis and set up a solar training program.

On the Piikani First Nation, Weather Dancer spins east of Brocket. The First Nation spent about $400,000 last year to update the turbine, which had been standing dormant for some time. They are looking to recoup those costs by selling the energy they generate.

“I think we’re just on the cusp of beginning to do great things in the country and being given an opportunity like that is just another sign of what we’re capable of and we’ll rise to the occasion to do it,” said Bourque-Bouchier.

The climate change advisory panel consisted of five members, include Angela Adams, a Metis from the Wood Buffalo region, who worked 20 years as a heavy duty equipment operator at Suncor Energy in Fort McMurray. The report was the result of extensive public engagement, including meetings in Aboriginal communities and with Aboriginal organizations.

Treaty 6 Grand Chief Tony Alexis was at Premier Rachel Notley’s side when the province unveiled the climate change strategy in late November.

“(First Nations people) are in the heart of the impacts of climate change. The way forward is simple, but not easy. We must strengthen our treaty relationships and honour our commitments, roles and responsibilities further to the (United Nation Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples) and other human rights frameworks in setting our agenda on climate change,” said Alexis.

The strategy, which Alberta took to the first ministers’ meeting and then on to Paris for the climate change conference, includes a phase out of coal-generated electricity by 2030; an increase in renewable energy to 30 per cent by 2030; a 100 mega-tonne limit on oilsands emissions; and a levy that starts at $20 per tonne in 2017 and rises to $30 per tonne price on all carbon emissions by 2018. 

Albertans will also be covering costs of the new climate change policy, as the price of gas at the pump will increase by 4.7 cents per litre and home heating costs will†rise by $320 per year by 2017 and $470 by 2018. However, low to middle income families will receive financial assistance as will First Nations, small businesses and people working in the coal industry.

“We have already compromised the future of our children and grandchildren. How we move forward together will decide what happens to them and to Mother Earth,” said Alexis.

Photo caption: Installing the eight solar photovoltaic panels on the south-facing roof of the Elder and youth lodge in Fort Chipewyan.