West Moberly First Nations to receive funding for geothermal project

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — West Moberly First Nations (WMFN) will receive $299,404 toward a new geothermal project.

The funds come from the BC Indigenous Clean Energy Initiative (BCICEI), a partnership between the federal and provincial governments and the Vancouver-based non-profit New Relationship Trust.

West Moberly is among 35 First Nations provincewide to receive $9.8 million in funding toward various renewable energy projects.

The clean energy projects vary in size, ranging from air-source heat pumps to conducting a feasibility study for a 40-megawatt wind project.

In WMFN’s case, the funds will go toward the project design and engineering for a geothermal facility that will provide heat to a commercial-scale greenhouse.

This is not West Moberly’s first alternative energy project. In 2021, the First Nation announced the launch of the Zonnebeke Energy Project. The wind project, located south of Chetwynd, has four turbines capable of generating up to 15 megawatts, enough to power 5,800 homes.

According to a release, BCICEI has helped fund 135 projects with approximately $30 million in funds since its inception in 2016.

Energeticcity.ca reached out to WMFN for further comment, but a response was not received by publication time.