Anahim Lake – On June 11, the Ulkatcho First Nation held a traditional groundbreaking ceremony to launch the largest off-grid solar power project in the country.
The Anahim Lake Solar Project — 100-percent owned by the Ulkatcho Energy Corporation (UEC), a member of the Nation’s Ulkatcho Group of Companies — will reduce the use of diesel by 64 percent for the community, significantly reducing carbon emissions in the region.
“Through our Ulkatcho Group of Companies, we are giving our people a cleaner environment and preserving our lands through reducing greenhouse gas emissions on our Traditional Territory,” said Chief Charlie Williams, Ulkatcho First Nation. “The Ulkatcho First Nation is proud to be a leader in the future of green energy in British Columbia.”
The solar farm is being built on the industrial land of an old sawmill site, and will involve the construction of new access roads, a control and monitoring facility, site fire management, signage and security.
Melissa Cahoose, Ulkatcho Climate Action Coordinator, was joined at the ceremony by other CFN Climate Action team members, along with many representatives from other project partners. Several collaborative relationships were developed for this project, including regional, provincial, national, and international companies and organizations.
“This solar project in Anahim Lake marks a new path for the Ulkatcho First Nation, creating significant lasting environmental and economic benefits,” said Stephen James, CEO of Ulkatcho Group of Companies. “We look forward to the future opportunities that this project will help create, and value the strong partnerships that we have developed with both the public and private sectors in this process.”
Download the Ulkatcho Energy Corporation press release (pdf) here.
