Huu-ay-aht First Nations Poised to Start 5.2MW Run of the River Project

ANACLA, BC, Dec. 7, 2017 /CNW/ - Huu-ay-aht First Nations is pleased to announce they will be meeting with BC Hydro on Monday, December 11, 2017 to finalize details on an Electricity Purchase Agreement (EPA) for the Sarita River Hydropower Project.

"This is an important step toward reconciliation," explained Huu-ay-aht's Chief Councillor Robert J. Dennis Sr., "The Sarita River Hydropower Project is in the national interest of the Huu-ay-aht people and has been included in our Economic Development Plan and our Strategic Plan."

Sarita River Hydro Project is a 5.2 MW hydropower project being developed by the Huu-ay-aht First Nation near Bamfield on Vancouver Island. Construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2018 with a commercial operation date in 2019.

"This project is wholly owned by the Huu-ay-aht First Nations," said Huu-ay-aht Councillor Trevor Cootes,"In addition to providing economic benefits to our Nation, it is anticipated to have islanding capabilities which we expect will reduce the occurrence and duration of power outages experienced by our citizens, and other BC Hydro customers residing on Huu-ay-aht  Territory, including near Bamfield. Due to these possibilities, we consider the project to be a very necessary and beneficial component of our electrical energy infrastructure, as well as a benefit to the region."

SOURCE Huu-ay-aht First Nations

Heather Thomson, Communications Coordinator, Huu-ay-aht First Nations, Office: 250-723-0100, cell: 250-720-7776, [email protected]