The BC NDP Government has stepped in to help the Huu-ay-aht First Nation micro-hydro project, after BC Hydro refused support.
Scott Fraser, Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation and MLA for Mid Island-Pacific Rim was in the Huu-ay-aht community of Anacla on Friday to announce that the Bamfield-area First Nation will receive more than a half-million dollars in funding from the B.C. government to support construction of a run-of-river hydroelectric project on the Sarita River.
In December of last year, Huu-ay-aht Chief Councillor Robert Dennis announced that after years of work and millions of dollars invested, BC Hydro refused to sign an electricity purchase agreement, essentially killing their plans.
Fraser agrees the political backing will help Huu-ay-aht now that they’re back in talks with BC Hydro.
Now, the First Nation is back negotiating with BC Hydro to support the proposed Sarita Micro-Hydro Project that could generate revenues of more than $2 million producing almost 15 gigawatt hours of electricity per year.