by
David Wiwchar
Ha-shilth-sa Reporter
February 10, 2005
Zeballos - The Ehattesaht First Nation is celebrating a deal with Pacific Rim Power Corporation after two years of negotiations.
"Pacific Rim Power is the first company to sign an accommodation agreement with Ehattesaht, and it recognizes they're coming in to our Ha'wilth Hahoulthee (Chief's traditional territory)," said Chief councilor Ernie Smith. "It's a benchmark in terms of developments that happen in our territory, and it shows we're willing to negotiate with whoever does business in our territory," he said.
Pacific Rim Power Corporation plans to construct a small hydro project on the Zeballos River. Fast-running river water will rush through a turbine, spinning the blades and creating electricity that will be sold to BC Hydro to enhance the Vancouver Island power grid.
Natural slides have
long blocked this area to salmon or other fish species, so Ehattesaht
believes it is truly a "green energy project".
The small hydro project will produce 22 megawatts (110 gigawatts per year),
and was one op 14 projects selected by BC Hydro for development. Under
the 20-year accommodation agreement, Ehattesaht will receive 1% of gross
revenues, expanding to 2% if the project produces 30% more power than
the threshold amount. Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) and Pacific
Rim Power Corporation (PPRC) funded negotiations and due diligence costs,
and the power company will hire Ehattesaht workers wherever possible.
PPRC will also pay for fish monitoring, provide shares in the company,
and will sponsor Ehattesaht training bursaries.
Ehattesaht agrees it will not exercise Aboriginal Rights in the area which might negatively impact the project.
"It's wonderful that you're going to be drawing power from our Chief's territory to enrich the entire province," said former councilor Victoria Wells who helped negitiate the deal. "We're putting an adversarial relationship in the past as we work to accommodate each other and work together towards a more secure and profitable future," she said.
According to PPRC President Robert Prior, his company was compelled to negotiate with Ehattesaht by BC Hydro as part of their process. In light of the Haida decision, such negotiations will now be the responsibility of the BC Government, which Prior believes is a better arrangement.
Prior, along with compayt Secretary Geoff Akehurst, sighed the agreement on Monday, February 7th in Zeballos with Ehattesaht Tyee Ha'wilth Mike Savey, Ha'wiih Georgina Amos, and Chief Councilor Ernie Smith.
Construction will
begin in April.
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