Reducing reliance on fossil fuels and addressing climate change
An innovative approach to reducing reliance on fossil fuels is helping 3 First Nations in the Yukon and Northern British Columbia to create healthier, more sustainable communities.
Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in, Taku River Tlingit and Carcross/Tagish First Nations worked with MGrid Energy Inc. to install advanced microgrid systems to power 3 important sites:
- a Carcross/Tagish First Nation culture camp
- a Taku River Tlingit First Nation fish camp
- a farm building at the Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in Teaching and Working Farm
Supported by the Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada program Northern Responsible Energy Approach for Community Heat and Electricity (Northern REACHE), these systems reduce diesel consumption and energy costs.
Northern REACHE provided $196,253 to the Carcross-Tagish First Nation, which coordinated the construction of the 3 micro-grid projects.
The solar panels at Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in Teaching and Working Farm that power buildings at the farm. Photo credit: MGrid Energy Inc.
Each site has great importance to the First Nations communities. At the Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in Teaching and Working Farm, energy from the solar panels will support local food production and improve food security by reducing dependence on food shipped from the south. At the fish and culture camps, citizens connecting with the land through traditional activities now have access to sustainable power and hot showers.
"At this camp that we have on the lake, the solar panels have a benefit to our citizens as we use it also for our healing camp," said Haa Shaa du Hen Lynda Dickson of Carcross/Tagish First Nation. "It was really nice for them to reconnect with the land." These collaborative clean energy projects support the First Nations' vision for a clean energy future and are a positive demonstration of how clean energy can support multiple priorities when communities lead on the development and implementation of projects.
What is a micro-grid?
A micro-grid is a small independent power network that meets energy needs by combining one or more energy sources and technologies, including solar, wind, batteries and also fossil fuels such as diesel and natural gas.
In addition to the micro-grid project, Carcross/Tagish First Nation, Taku River Tlingit First Nation and Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in are leading on a number of other projects to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change including a community-led climate change research and monitoring program, the expansion of the Atlin hydroelectricity facility in Northern British Columbia and the construction of a 3,000 square foot cold climate greenhouse at the Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in's Teaching and Working Farm.