A new agreement with the B.C. government will enable the Taku River Tlingit First Nation to share revenue from the Pine Creek Micro-Hydro Project.

The revenue-sharing agreement is enabled by B.C.'s First Nations Clean Energy Business Fund, which aims to promote increased First Nations participation in the clean-energy sector. The Pine Creek agreement is the third revenue-sharing agreement to be signed under the fund.

The signing of this agreement means that B.C. has reached a total of 22 non-treaty agreements since the BC Jobs Plan was launched in 2011.This agreement is also the fourth of the 10 new non-treaty agreements B.C. has committed to reaching over the next two years.

The Pine Creek Micro-Hydro Project is a 2.1 mega-watt hydro facility located near Atlin, which will replace less-efficient diesel generators and will be interconnected to the BC Hydro grid.

Once the project is fully operational, the revenue to Taku River Tlingit is forecast to be approximately $6,000 per year over the life of the project.

Quote:

Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation Minister John Rustad -

"Through the BC Jobs Plan, we are committed to reaching non-treaty agreements that bring benefits more quickly to First Nations communities. These agreements are not an alternative to treaty, but are building blocks that can be used to build to treaties and other forms of reconciliation agreements. This revenue-sharing agreement will benefit the Taku River Tlingit First Nation, while supporting B.C.'s clean energy sector."

Quick Facts:

• The First Nations Clean Energy Business Fund provides money to build capacity in First Nations communities and invest in clean-energy infrastructure.
• Since 2011, the provincial government has invested approximately $3.8 million to support clean energy opportunities in 70 Aboriginal communities throughout B.C., including wind energy, biomass, run-of-river hydroelectric power and clean-energy planning.
• Earlier this year, B.C. and the Tahltan Nation signed the first revenue-sharing agreement reached under the First Nations Clean Energy Business Fund.
• The clean-energy technology industry is one of the fastest growing industries in B.C., with more than 200 organizations, 68 per cent of which were formed in the past decade.

Learn More:

For more information about the First Nations Clean Energy Business Fund and how to apply, call 1 800 880-1022 toll-free or visit: http://www.gov.bc.ca/arr/economic/fncebf.html

Media Contact:

Nina Chiarelli
Communications Director
Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation
250 953-3211