Ulkatcho First Nation set to build largest off-grid solar power farm in Canada

The remote community of Anaheim Lake in B CS Chilcoton Region is the home of the El Gaucho First Nation. It’s one of at least 44 communities in the province dependent on diesel to generate power and heat. If we run out of diesel, then the light goes out. That’s it. Even you’re miles away. You can hear the generator running and you see big cloud of black smoke coming out sometimes. Clean energy think tank the Pembina Institute says remote communities in BC are entitled to the same clean, reliable energy as all customers in the province. And for decades, remote communities have been forced to rely on expensive and polluting diesel fuel. And this partnership aims to not just promote sustainability but also economic development for the El Pacho First Nation. But soon a new First Nation owned energy project will provide community members with a source of reliable clean energy. It will be the largest off grid solar panel farm in Canada. We believe that solar energy will be the source of our ability for a lot of our families to live off the grid between Rd. bands. Having a tough time getting the fuel out here if we have fires that closing the roads down, whatnot. So it’s it’s nice to have another means of of power. On Friday, the El Gaucho Energy Corporation signed a historic electricity purchase agreement with BC Hydro to help the remote community transition off diesel, as you’ve heard, will reduce the diesel reliance by 1.1 million liters a year, very significant, about 65% reduction. Not only will it provide jobs in construction, but it will also provide revenue for the European Community. She says the project is an example of how First Nations can champion energy sovereignty and economic reconciliation. It will ensure that we continue to build a healthy future future for our. But experts warn solar power does have its limitations. Any sort of renewable, you know, solar or wind, they’re not going to be able to meet 100% of the of the energy needs. But on the whole there’s there’s very little drawback to actually putting in place these sorts of projects that that again just add energy security and produce costs for off grid communities. All that areas we can see up to those trees. The solar panel farm will stretch over 10 hectares on land that was once home to the First Nations sawmill. We have to be the stewardships of that land. We have to protect it in every way and this project is one of the ways. The El Gaucho Energy Corporation says the project is estimated to cost about $30 million. Just over 15,000,000 is being funded by federal and provincial governments. Really exciting. I just never thought, ever thought that we would have this in our small little community. Shovels are expected to be in the ground by this August, with the solar panel farm up and running by fall of 2025. Janella Hamilton, CBC News, Anaheim Lake.