Tag Archives: Geothermal in BC

Development, Housing

Construction coming to the (Many) Common Areas of Mansons Landing

Close to 50 people turned up at Mansons Hall on January 24, for an update on the construction coming or already underway in the downtown Mansons area. The Cortes Housing Society, Southern Cortes Community Association (SCCA), Cortes Island Community Foundation and Cortes Island Pickleball Society were on hand to describe what’s taking place at Rainbow Ridge, the multipurpose courts and the Village Commons. 

 Regional Director Mark Vonesch exclaimed, “The big news here on Cortes is that the Housing Society is going to start building houses this year.” 

Sandra Wood, who’s been at the heart of the Rainbow Ridge affordable housing project from the beginning, added, “It’s exciting to finally get shovels in the ground. We feel like we’ve been shovel ready for years.”   

Manda Aufochs Gillespie, from the Cortes Island Foundation, described another focus of the meeting “More and more, it’s clear that the Village Commons is really this whole area and all the things that we gather in the heart of Mansons to do.”

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Energy, Politics

Parties pitch energy plans before B.C. election

Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

BC Greens and Conservatives launched competing visions for energy generation this week in contrast to the NDP’s future plans to heat peoples’ homes, fuel cars and run businesses.

All the parties emphasize the need to meet B.C.’s growing energy demands, while keeping rates affordable and fostering First Nations ownership of energy projects — but proposed courses of action vary wildly.

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Energy, Indigenous Nations

New attempt at geothermal could be coming to Fort Liard

By Caitrin Pilkington, Cabin Radio, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Fort Liard-based Acho Dene Koe First Nation is partnering with a Nanaimo-based company to explore a potential geothermal energy project. 

The company, Barkley Project Group, is also behind a geothermal project in Fort Nelson (photo at top of page), Fort Liard’s near neighbour in northern B.C., which is on track to become the first geothermal plant owned by a First Nation in Canada. 

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Energy, Indigenous Nations

Northeast B.C. geothermal project enters testing phase

By Tom Summer, Alaska Highway News, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A second round of water testing for Fort Nelson First Nation’s geothermal power plan is expected by next week, ensuring groundwater in the region is commercially viable for geothermal electricity and heat production facilities.  

Owned by the Fort Nelson First Nation, the Tu Deh-Kah power plant will be B.C.’s first geothermal electricity plant once completed, using 120-degree water sitting 2,000 to 2,500 metres below the earth’s surface to generate power and heat year-round greenhouses.  

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Energy, Indigenous Nations

Heiltsuk First Nation doing ‘heart work’ to tackle climate crisis

National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

It’s hard work, but it’s heart work. 

That’s the maxim of the climate action team helping bring the Haíɫzaqv (Heiltsuk) First Nation’s vision of clean energy sovereignty to life. 

The small, remote coastal nation in Bella Bella on British Columbia’s wild central coast is in the last stage of shaping a three- to five-year clean energy plan to shift its dependence on diesel and increase the community’s climate resiliency by focusing on sustainable solutions using the sun, wind, earth and water. 

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