ICEO Workshop: June 27 & 28, 2023
A two-day workshop of information sharing, discussion, and exploring opportunities in the electricity and hydrogen sectors for Indigenous communities in B.C.
In June 2023, the ICEO hosted a workshop on the hydrogen and electricity sectors. Our two-day virtual energy workshop explored B.C.’s changing electricity sector, B.C. Hydro’s UNDRIP implementation and hydrogen market opportunities.
We visualized our clean energy aspirations for British Columbia with the help of an Indigenous graphic facilitator who creatively captured our discussions.
Resources from the event can be found on our resources page.
Agenda
Day One: Electricity 101 & Implementing the Declaration Act in BC’s Electricity Sector
Learn more about recent provincial announcements for clean electricity production, generation, transmission, distribution, utilities, and regulation as well as alignment of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UN Declaration) Act into B.C.’s electricity sector.
9:00 – Opening & Acknowledgement
- Kwatuuma Cole Sayers, Director of Clean Energy, FNEMC, ICEO Lead
- Tricia Thomas, Facilitator, FNEMC, Tumuxw Communications
- Larry Grant, Musqueam Elder
B.C. Context
9:30 – The Evolving Future of Electricity in B.C.
- Les MacLaren, Assistant Deputy Minister, Electricity & Utility Regulation
- Simon Coley, Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic & Indigenous Partnerships
10:00 – B.C.’s Electricity Grid & Markets
- Bruce Chow, Manager, IPP Portfolio Management, BC Hydro
- Alex Tu, Senior Strategic Technology Specialist, BC Hydro
- Monique Stevenson, Call for Power Project Lead, BC Hydro
- Michael Corrigan, Senior Marketing Manager, Powerex
11:05 – Break
Utilities, Regulation, & Indigenous Utilities
11:10 – Role & Regulation of Utilities
- Damon Boyle, Legal Counsel, B.C. Utilities Commission
11:20 – B.C. Utilities Commission Indigenous Utilities Regulation Inquiry
- Kwatuuma Cole Sayers
- Jeremy Cairns, Lead for Indigenous Relations, B.C. Utilities Commission
11:45 – Panel: Q&A
- Moderator: Kwatuuma Cole Sayers
- Nicola Simon, Executive Director, Facilities & Planning, B.C. Utilities Commission
- Dr. Judith Sayers, President Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council, ETAG Member
- Les MacLaren, Assistant Deputy Minister, Electricity & Utility Regulation
12:25 – Lunch Break
Energy Planning & Funding
1:00 – Community Energy Planning & Funding Sources
- Sarah Powell, Program Specialist, New Relationship Trust
- Sean Brennan, Advisory Council Member, Wah-ila-toos NRCAN
- Leona Humchitt, Advisory Council Member, Wah-ila-toos NRCAN
Generation, Transmission, & Distribution
1:30 – Generation, Transmission, & Distribution Basics
- Jason Rennie, Business Development Manager, BC Hydro
2:00 – Breakout session
- Accessing Capital
2:50 – Break
BC Hydro UN Declaration Implementation Plan
3:00 – Presentation
- Leah Manson, Team Lead Indigenous Relations, BC Hydro
- BC Hydro’s United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Implementation Plan
3:30 – Breakout session
- Co-development/Indigenous-led development
- Ownership
- Transparency/Evaluation
4:15 – Closing and next steps
4:30 – Adjourn
Day Two: Exploring Hydrogen Opportunities for First Nations
Explore what factors should be considered by communities when making decisions on hydrogen projects. Uncover what questions and barriers exist when it comes to First Nations opportunities in hydrogen. Discover what resources are needed to overcome barriers and move hydrogen projects forward for BC First Nations.
9:00 – Opening & Acknowledgement
- Kwatuuma Cole Sayers, FNEMC Director of Clean Energy, ICEO Lead
- Tricia Thomas, Facilitator, FNEMC, Tumuxw Communications
- Larry Grant, Musqueam Elder
9:25 – Recap of Workshop #1
- Record of Proceedings from the January 31, 2023 workshop under the BC First Nations Hydrogen Initiative (Video Recording)
Evaluating Hydrogen Opportunities for B.C. First Nations
10:00 – Where does hydrogen make sense for different communities and why?
10:45 – Break
11:00 – Breakout session
- Hydrogen Project Decision-Making Pathway
12:00 – Lunch Break & Prizes
Industry
1:00 – Introduction to Industry Session
- Doug Slater, Vice President, FortisBC
1:10 – Panel: First Nations Hydrogen Opportunities (Ask the Experts)
- Moderator: James Delorme, Former Chief of Klahoose First Nation
1:45 – Federal and provincial funding opportunities
- Anna van der Kamp, Executive Director, Clean Fuels, Natural Resources Canada
- Rebecca Luedtke, Policy Advisor, Electricity & Utility Regulation
Capacity Building for BC First Nation Projects
2:00 – Breakout session
- Have you explored developing a hydrogen project?
- What opportunities and barriers/concerns have you identified?
2:40 – Break
2:50 – Breakout session
- What resources do you need to overcome barriers or leverage opportunities?
- What resources would be helpful?
3:30 – Closing and next steps
4:00 – Adjourn
Acknowledgement
We acknowledge that the B.C. Public Service carries out its work on the territories of 204 First Nations communities across B.C., each with unique cultures, languages, legal traditions and relationships to these lands and waters. We also respectfully acknowledge and honour the Métis and Inuit people living in B.C.
Indigenous Clean Energy Opportunities (ICEO)
This initiative is a collaboration between First Nations Leadership Council, BC First Nations Energy and Mining Council and Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation.
Contact ICEO: ICEO@gov.bc.ca