Indigenous Renewable Energy Developments in British Columbia
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Powering Self-Determination: Indigenous Renewable Energy Developments in British Columbia by Eryn Fitzgerald B.A., University of Alberta, 2008 A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF ARTS In the School of Environmental Studies © Eryn Fitzgerald, 2018 University of Victoria All rights reserved. This thesis may not be reproduced in whole or in part, by photocopy or other means, without the permission of the author. Supervisory Committee Powering Self-Determination: Indigenous Renewable Energy Developments in British Columbia by Eryn Fitzgerald B.A., University of Alberta, 2008 Supervisory Committee Karena Shaw, Supervisor School of Environmental Studies Judith Sayers, Departmental Member School of Environmental Studies ii Abstract Indigenous peoples are increasingly using renewable energy technologies to meet a variety of objectives. In so-called Canada, there has been a dramatic rise in Indigenous renewable energy projects due to economic, environmental, and legal trends. Nowhere are these trends more evident than in the province of British Columbia (BC). In the early 2000s, the colonial government privatized the electricity system, sparking a rapid expansion of run of river hydro projects on Indigenous lands. Over time, and with much effort, First Nations in BC began to participate in and ultimately benefit from the shift to independent power production. However, just as they increased their involvement in the renewable energy sector, the government withdrew its commitment to purchase private power for the foreseeable future. One way to understand the implications of this policy reversal is to examine it through the lens of energy justice. Using a justice framework, this research explores how First Nations are involved in renewable energy developments in BC as well as the significance of this involvement for Indigenous self-determination. Drawing from two case studies and survey data from First Nations across the province, I argue that the decline in power procurement programs is not simply a barrier but an injustice. I first illustrate how provincial energy policies have shaped and been shaped by Indigenous renewable energy ambitions. While First Nations were not the intended beneficiaries of these policies, they nonetheless seized the opportunity to sell electricity to the grid. I also compare the approaches of two Indigenous power producers, Kanaka Bar Indian Band and Sts’ailes First Nation, arguing that they have generated important economic benefits by strategically navigating the private power industry. Lastly, I document how members of Kanaka Bar have leveraged the Kwoiek Creek hydro project to address the adverse impacts of colonization and further their aims of self-determination. Based on these findings, I conclude that Indigenous renewable energy projects are themselves forms of energy justice and as such, must be supported through a variety of means. iii Table of Contents Supervisory Committee ........................................................................................................ ii Abstract ..................................................................................................................................... iii Table of Contents ................................................................................................................... iv List of Tables ............................................................................................................................ vi List of Figures ......................................................................................................................... vii Acknowledgments ............................................................................................................... viii Dedication ................................................................................................................................ ix Chapter 1: Introduction ......................................................................................................... 1 Exploring Energy Justice ............................................................................................................................... 5 Applying Energy Justice ............................................................................................................................. 12 Literature Review ........................................................................................................................................ 15 What is happening? ..................................................................................................................................................... 15 Why does it matter? .................................................................................................................................................... 19 Research Questions ..................................................................................................................................... 23 Scope ................................................................................................................................................................. 25 Thesis Outline ................................................................................................................................................ 27 Chapter 2: Approach to Research .................................................................................... 29 Positionality ................................................................................................................................................... 29 Key Influences ............................................................................................................................................... 30 Research Design ............................................................................................................................................ 32 Case Study Development ............................................................................................................................ 34 Kanaka Bar Indian Band. ........................................................................................................................................... 34 Sts’ailes First Nation. ................................................................................................................................................... 35 Case Study Analysis ..................................................................................................................................... 36 Survey Development ................................................................................................................................... 36 Terminology ................................................................................................................................................... 38 Chapter 3: First Nation Involvement in Renewable Energy Projects in BC ....... 40 Part 1 – Indigenous Power Production ................................................................................................. 42 Colonialism and energy injustice. .......................................................................................................................... 42 Scope of involvement. ................................................................................................................................................. 45 Privatization. .................................................................................................................................................................. 47 Part 2 – Decline of Independent Power Procurement ..................................................................... 55 Renewed reliance on publicly owned power. .................................................................................................. 55 Impact oF downturn. .................................................................................................................................................... 60 Discussion ....................................................................................................................................................... 65 Making a claim to justice. .......................................................................................................................................... 66 What does energy justice look like? ..................................................................................................................... 69 Chapter Four: A Comparative Analysis of Indigenous Power Producers ........... 72 Part 1 - Leveraging the Benefits of Renewable Energy .................................................................... 74 The business oF renewable energy. ...................................................................................................................... 75 iv Distinct approaches to development. .................................................................................................................. 77 Employment, equity, and other beneFits. ........................................................................................................... 85 Part 2 – Shaping the Private Power Sector .......................................................................................... 89 Discussion ......................................................................................................................................................