Indigenous Ownership in British Columbia's Power Sector
- IEM
- Aug 2
- 5 min read
Updated: Nov 13
British Columbia (BC) is a leader in both clean energy development and Indigenous ownership of power and utility infrastructure. With the province’s growing energy needs driven by population growth and economic expansion, the BC government has launched a new 2025 Call for Power, aiming to accelerate clean energy projects across the region. This renewed focus includes requirements for Indigenous participation in energy development, marking a pivotal shift in how projects are conceived, financed, and operated. In response, IEM prepared this article exploring the current landscape of Indigenous equity ownership in BC’s energy sector.
BC's Grid at a Glance
BC has an estimated electricity generation capacity of over 18,000 megawatts, the third highest in Canada (Canadian Energy Regulator, 2024). More than 98% of BC’s electricity comes from renewable energy sources. The vast majority is produced by hydroelectric facilities, with a smaller share from wind, solar, and biomass. The remaining 2% comes from natural gas plants used for backup power when needed (BC Hydro, 2025).
BC operates under a regulated electricity system, where BC Hydro, a provincial Crown corporation, generates most of the province’s electricity. Independent Power Producers (IPPs) own and operate smaller generation facilities and sell their electricity to BC Hydro through power purchase agreements. As part of its planning process, BC Hydro periodically issues Calls for Power to solicit new clean energy projects. These Calls for Power are subject to proposal requirements, which include mandatory Indigenous participation to align energy procurement and systems in the province with economic reconciliation goals.
Recent Calls for Power
2024 Call for Power: Marked the first provincial energy procurement in 15 years that mandated minimum 25% equity participation by First Nations in new renewable energy projects. 10 projects were selected and actual deals surpassed targets as successful proposals included 49–51% First Nations ownership, driving nearly $6 billion in private investment with up to $3 billion under Indigenous ownership (British Columbia, 2024).
Successful 2024 Call for Power Projects
2025 Call for Power: Built on the 2024 precedent by again specifying clean/renewable capacity ≥ 40 MW, minimum 25% equity, and commercial operation by 2033. The RFP was issued on July 28, 2025 and the submission deadline is January 5, 2026. Contracts are expected to be awarded in early 2026 with the goal of acquiring 5,000 GWh/year (BC Hydro, 2025).
Indigenous Ownership Landscape
BC is currently home to 82 power and utility projects over 0.5 MW across various stages of development that have Indigenous equity ownership. All data is sourced from our Indigenous Energy Ownership Tracker (IEOT).
Indigenous-Owned Projects by Type in British Columbia
BC Indigenous-Owned Projects Insights:
Most of the projects are hydroelectric.
Most of the projects are either majority or wholly-owned by Indigenous communities.
Project sizes range from 0.5 MW - 300 MW.
69 BC Indigenous communities hold equity ownership stakes.
Most of the projects are currently in development.
This growing portfolio not only reflects the growing demand for clean energy in BC, but also deeper commitments toward reconciliation and energy sovereignty. IEM is excited to track the upcoming 2025 Call for Power Proposals and add the projects and associated details to the IEOT. It is expected that most of the succesful projects will be wind and solar energy projects.
Case Studies
The following projects are some examples of operating Indigenous-owned power & utility projects in BC:
⚡Kokish River Hydroelectric Project
45 MW hydro power plant located in NE Vancouver Island
Owned by Kwagis Power LP (Evolugen, 'Namgis First Nation)
25% owned by 'Namgis First Nation
Operating since 2014
Government funding programs utilized to enable Indigenous stake
⚡Kingsvale Transmission Line
24 kilometer line bringing power to TransMountain's Kingsvale pump station
Owned by Shulus Electricity Transmission LP (Valard Construction LP, Lower Nicola Indian Band Development Corp.)
55% owned by Lower Nicola Indian Band
Operating since 2020
⚡Zonnebeke Wind Project
15 MW wind project located in the Peace River Region
Owned by Zonnebeke Wind LP (Natural Forces, West Moberly First Nation)
Minority owned by West Moberly First Nations
Operating since 2021
All data is sourced from our IEOT.
Benefits of Ownership
Equity ownership provides long-term, community-led value well beyond one-time agreements or impact benefits. Key benefits include:
Revenue Generation: Long-term, stable income through dividends or revenue-sharing agreements that last the full project lifecycle (often 25–40 years), supporting economic independence.
Local Jobs and Capacity Building: Employment opportunities during construction and operations, with longer-term roles in governance, asset management, and administration. Projects also support skills training, business development, and community capacity.
Control and Stewardship: Indigenous ownership enables Indigenous communities to embed cultural values and traditional knowledge into project design, environmental monitoring, and land use planning.
Reinvestment in Community Priorities: Revenues are often redirected to housing, education, health care, youth programs, language revitalization, and infrastructure, enabling self-determined development at the community level.
Challenges and Evolving Landscape
Despite strong momentum, Indigenous communities still face structural and systemic challenges in developing and owning clean energy projects:
Regulatory Complexity: Environmental assessments, permitting, Crown land access, and alignment with provincial and federal processes can be resource-intensive.
Interconnection and Transmission Constraints: Many clean energy opportunities are located in remote or underserved regions where BC Hydro’s grid lacks sufficient infrastructure to connect new projects.
Unpredictable Procurement Cycles: After BC Hydro’s Standing Offer Program ended, the province went over a decade without new clean energy procurement. The recent 2024 and 2025 Calls for Power are welcome, but longer-term certainty is still lacking.
Access to Capital: Equity investments require upfront capital that many communities cannot access without external loan guarantees or blended financing tools. Even with federal and provincial supports, not all communities are positioned to participate equally.
The Future of Indigenous Power in BC
British Columbia is a national leader in Indigenous equity ownership, thanks in large part to intentional policy design and procurement reform. BC Hydro’s 2024 and 2025 Calls for Power mark a significant turning point in mandating a minimum 25% Indigenous equity stake in all eligible clean energy projects. BC also offers many funding programs for Indigenous communities to utilize to study, develop, and construct energy projects and initiatives within the province. As a result, many Indigenous communities are now exploring majority ownership, forming regional coalitions, and pursuing models of energy sovereignty through independent or jointly developed projects.
Looking ahead, IEM expects future procurement rounds to maintain or increase these requirements, embedding Indigenous ownership more firmly into the fabric of BC’s energy transition. With growing policy alignment and increased access to capital, Indigenous Nations are positioned to lead in shaping the next generation of clean energy infrastructure across the province.
How IEM is Supporting Transparency
We’re actively tracking Indigenous participation in Canada’s growing energy sector as part of our Indigenous Energy Ownership Tracker (IEOT). The IEOT is currently tracking over 480 Indigenous-owned projects across 5 sectors - oil & gas, power & utilities, chemicals & fuel, CCUS, and mining & minerals.
By centralizing and visualizing ownership data, we help communities, developers, and policymakers:
Identify where Indigenous equity is being deployed
Benchmark successful ownership models
Understand trends across regions and sectors
Discover funding sources that get projects built
Build partnerships based on evidence
And so much more
🔗Discover the IEOT Tool Here: https://www.indigenousenergymonitor.ca/ieot
Stay Informed, Get Involved
Whether you’re an Indigenous economic development group, a project developer, a researcher, or a polciy maker, IEM's transparency and data are essential.
🔗 Explore our solutions: www.indigenousenergymonitor.ca
📩 Contact us: info@indigenousenergymonitor.ca
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