Solar panel feasibility study to be conducted

A solar panel feasibility study will be conducted by the West Moberly First Nation. The study will be focused on the installation of solar panels in the community. Through the provincial government’s First Nations Clean Energy Business Fund, the First Nation will be getting $25,780 towards its Solar 1 PV Solar installation project’s feasibility study. The community has set a goal of supplying 10 per cent of its own energy through clean-based energy projects by 2020, and the province argues that this will greatly help them in achieving that status. “I’m pleased we have been able to provide assistance from this business fund to help the West Moberly First Nation with its energy plan,” said Peace River South MLA Blair Lekstrom. “Developing clean-energy alternatives is part of the government’s plan to promote economic and resource-based opportunities for First Nations within their own territory.” In 2009, West Moberly was the first B.C. First Nation community to be awarded the honour of “Solar Community” by SolarBC, having completed a community energy plan that year that sets out the energy generation goal, along with reducing fuel use and energy use in community buildings.