The Fort Nelson First Nation has secured $1.2 million in federal funding from Natural Resources Canada for the Tu Deh-Kah Geothermal Project (TDK).
First announced in 2019, it is the first geothermal project of its kind in British Columbia and among the first in Canada.
The project will utilize geothermal energy, a clean and renewable power source that harnesses heat from beneath the Earth’s surface through drilled wells and converts it into energy with minimal greenhouse gas emissions.
It is located at the site of the former Clarke Lake Gas Field, approximately 14 kilometers southwest of Fort Nelson. Once operational, the 100% Indigenous-owned project, managed through Fort Nelson First Nation’s economic development arm, Deh Tai LP, will generate enough energy to power 10,000 homes.
“We are proud to lead the way in advancing sustainable, renewable energy solutions for our people and the broader economy,” said Jim Hodgson, CEO of Deh Tai Limited.
In addition to promoting the clean energy transition in northern regions, the project promises significant economic benefits for the Fort Nelson First Nation and neighboring communities. In a release, Natural Resources Canada emphasized the project’s role in advancing climate change action and contributing to Canada’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
It is one of seven Indigenous-led initiatives in British Columbia to receive a total of $6.2 million in funding through the Indigenous Natural Resource Partnerships Program.
The funding follows the launch of a $5 billion Indigenous Loan Guarantee Program aimed at supporting Indigenous groups with natural resource development.
The project is expected to be operational by early 2027.