HaiCo spokespersons said the Haida Nation and NaiKun Wind Energy Group (“NaiKun Wind”) have signed a memorandum of understanding in support of the agreement.
HaiCo and the Haida Nation will be seeking the support of the federal government for the proposal and they have said the initiative is consistent with the objectives of the new Federal Framework on Aboriginal Economic Development. The current estimated cost of the NaiKun Wind project is approximately $2 billion and the Haida are positioned to acquire that 40 per cent of the 396 MW wind energy project, and add a host of energy associated benefits.
It involves over 100 tower mounted turbines arrayed over hundreds of square kilometres, as proposed for the Hecate Strait. "We are still working on the environmental review and it will be ready, depending on the weather, either in September or October 2009," says Thomas Olsen, MBA, and CEO of HaiCo.
"Future income from part ownership of the wind energy project could provide the catalyst to enable the Haida Nation to create a sustainable economy for Haida Gwaii." The Nation is poised to develop the giant islands in their reaches in such economic development areas such as forestry products, fisheries of several species fin and shell, and aquaculture, not too mention that opportunities in tourism and recreation. The new power from ownership in NaiKun adds immensely as well as to community infrastructure.
Olsen says the Haida Enterprise Corporation and the Haida Nation will be seeking the support of the federal government for this proposal and that includes a range of offices including INAC, Environment Canada, and DFO. "It will change life and give a wide stream of benefits to people in Haida Gwaii," he says. "The current energy situation is very limiting to the economic development aspirations of the Haida Nation. Diesel generated power is too restrictive of the development process."
HaiCO is meanwhile following the processes and meeting with certain politicians like Hon. Chuck Stahl, Minister of Indian Affairs, "We are working with a bureaucracy to see how we fit," Thomas says, "and this is an Aboriginal economic development initiative so we are trying to emphasize the wide array of benefits to the Haida equity position in NaiKun Wind Energy Group. It's a concern to the whole population of these islands," he says, "that they gain ownership and access of a green energy solution," but the cost of the huge array of wind turbines is daunting, "and people don't necessarily understand the debt."
Olsen says the federal and provincial governments have to understand that the wind energy project is about more than green energy for the province, "It's about self-reliance for the Haida and self-determination. We have a big fishery and scallop aquaculture underway, and we have tourism opportunities with existing operators. We have a substantial forestry license, 120,000 CM per year. We are concerned about creating new capacity for jobs that will continue to provide downstream benefits within the local economy, and that comes from an equity position in power generation from a large producer like NaiKun."
