Clean Energy Association of BC (CEBC)

Generate 2025 - Save the Date and Call for Speakers Clean Energy Association of British Columbia is excited to announce Generate 2025, happening May 12–13, 2025, at the Westin Bayshore Hotel in Vancouver on the traditional, unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. Join us for two incredible days of connection, innovation, and collaboration as we explore the future of clean energy and celebrate First Nations leadership, industry partnerships, and cutting-edge advancements. Mark your calendars now—you won’t want to miss it! Stay tuned for updates on registration, speakers, and sponsorship opportunities coming early in the new year. Spread the word and tag a colleague who should join you at Generate 2025! For early speaker, sponsorship, or exhibitor opportunities, please email: events@cleanenergybc.org

Member in the Spotlight: Tania Specogna at FortisBC! Q: Where are you from? TS: I was born on Haida Gwaii to Italian immigrant parents and grew up speaking Italian. We lived in Port Clements, before moving to the B.C. Lower Mainland.   Q: Where do you work, what's your job title and how long have you held that position? TS: I have been the Director of Resource Development at FortisBC for 10 years and in the energy industry for over two decades. I have held various leadership roles, focusing on the business side of the upstream commercial market and early project development.   Q: What excites you the most being in this sector? TS: Energy is complex and interesting. Getting my teenagers to understand and support what I do is a big win. B.C. plays a significant role in supporting safe, reliable and affordable energy for the region. I'm excited about our company's and others' customer-focused efforts to transition to a lower-carbon energy future. While there are significant challenges, there are also opportunities for innovation, such as better integrating electricity and gas systems to ensure affordable energy and expand access to low-carbon sources.   Q: How would you describe employment and advancement opportunities for women in the industry? TS: When I started my career, I was often the only woman at the negotiation table, but this is changing. It's essential to find mentors, women and men, who can guide you in navigating internal pathways within companies. FortisBC has provided me a positive environment for growth and development. Success often comes from stepping out of your comfort zone and embracing new challenges.   Q: What advice would you give a female high school student wanting to work in this industry?  TS: This diverse industry offers many different career paths, from engineering and research to policy and business. Stay curious, keep learning and don't be afraid to pursue your passion. You don't have to know exactly how to do it. Many people avoid challenging roles because they're afraid of failing. My advice is to just go for it. From my experience, it's about knowing what you want, and the paths will reveal themselves. Don't be afraid to take on an opportunity that scares you.   Q: Do you have a female mentor? TS: I didn't have a mentor, per se. I had a belief system that was established from when I was young. My nonna was a midwife in Italy at a time when it was uncommon for women to hold roles outside the family household. This made a lasting impression on me, showing that being a woman doesn't limit you from pursuing your work passion. My parents were very adamant that my siblings and I pursue higher education. They believed that with perseverance, anything is achievable, regardless of gender. My sister has also achieved a successful senior leadership role in a male dominated industry.   Thank you, Tania!

Join CEBC at the 22nd Annual BC Natural Resources Forum! Mark your calendars: Wednesday, January 15th 3:00 - 3:50 PM Stronger Energy Grid – Stronger Economy Panel Featuring Kwatuuma Cole Sayers Executive Director, Clean Energy Association of BC Join CEBC’s Executive Director, Kwatuuma Cole Sayers and Senior Government Relations Advisor, Jack Magnus alongside resource sector, Indigenous, and government leaders to explore opportunities that arise when we work together. Celebrating the theme "BC Natural Resources – Purpose, Partnerships, and Prosperity." This year’s forum will highlight how purpose-driven initiatives, meaningful partnerships, and local innovation are shaping global standards while driving shared prosperity across British Columbia. We hope to see you there! #BCNaturalResources #CleanEnergy #EconomicReconciliation #PurposePartnershipsProsperity 

Member in the Spotlight: Sarah Ozog! Sarah's respect for the foresight and determination of Cloy-e-iis Judith Sayers, who wrote about opportunities for First Nations in the clean energy sector back when no one else was talking about it, is greatly shared. 1. Where do you work and what's your job title? SO: I am nearing completion of my PhD in Resource and Environmental Management at SFU and working for the Haida Nation’s Tll Yahda Energy company as a strategic advisor on their pledge to eliminate diesel generated electricity. 2. When and why did you decide to work in the clean energy industry? SO: First Nations leadership in the sector directed me. In 2010, I worked for the council of Skidegate on Haida Gwaii. Their brilliant Manager Barbara Stevens had a vision of getting off diesel and becoming a solar community. My job was to support that. We established a partnership with T’Sou-ke First Nation, who had just completed a 75 kw PV system as well as solar hot water installations. We aimed to apply their best practices on Haida Gwaii. 3. Do you have a female mentor? If so, who is she and how has she helped you? SO: Mentorship is so important. I feel privileged to have so many brilliant mentors to provide guidance and direction whenever needed. While always trying to be respectful of their time, I have surrounded myself with true supporters. When I call them and they ask how I’m doing, I can respond with, “Oh you know me, I usually only call when I’m overwhelmed,” and then we quickly get down to business. As I near the final stages of my PhD, I must recognize Cloy-e-iis Judith Sayers. When I was writing my master’s thesis in 2011, no one but her, was writing about First Nations opportunities in the sector. Without her academic and industry foundation, the advancements we see today would not be the same. 4. Professionally, where would you like to see yourself five years from now? SO: I plan to continue to wear many hats but aim to stay primarily focused on my work for Tll Yahda Energy and decarbonizing Haida Gwaii. However I do hope completing my PhD frees up some space for board positions on other clean energy organizations or companies so I can continue to contribute and learn from other regions as well. 5. What would you like to see change in the clean energy industry in the proceeding 5/10 years? SO: The Call for Power announcement of nine wind projects in BC, projected to provide nearly 5,000 GW hours, has provided needed momentum within the sector. For years, frustration has been expressed by industry due to a lack of clean energy procurement and this is something I hope will change. While other jurisdictions still burn coal and oil for electricity production, BC holds an abundance of clean non-emitting natural resources and a proven technical sector in Vancouver and beyond. Bringing those two together more efficiently and effectively under strong leadership of First Nations is the opportunity before us now. Thank you, Sarah!

Clean Energy Association of BC Statement on the Passing of Niilo Edwards Vancouver, BC – December 17, 2024 – The Clean Energy Association of British Columbia (CEBC) joins Indigenous communities, industry partners, and all those who knew Niilo Edwards, ICD.D  in mourning his passing. A visionary leader, trusted collaborator, and tireless advocate, Niilo’s life was dedicated to advancing Indigenous participation, capacity, and leadership in major projects across Canada. Born in Alert Bay and raised in Sointula, a small fishing village on Malcolm Island, Niilo carried his roots into every aspect of his work. His career began as a constituency advisor in Ottawa’s House of Commons, later serving as executive assistant to Senator Gerry St. Germain, who inspired in him an entrepreneurial spirit and a sense of urgency to address systemic gaps. Niilo completed his degree in public administration at the University of Ottawa, laying the foundation for a remarkable career. Niilo dedicated 20 years to advancing Indigenous business capacity, most recently serving as CEO of the First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) and its revenue-generating arm, the FNMPC Advisory Centre. Under his leadership, FNMPC grew to support over 170 Indigenous communities nationwide, overseeing a project portfolio valued at $45 billion. A respected advisor to the First Nations Financial Management Board and the Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples, Niilo also served on the boards of the Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships and a First Nations-owned corporation. He held the prestigious ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors. In 2024, Niilo was hounored as Indigenous Entrepreneur of the Year by BCBusiness and was a finalist for the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Program in the Pacific Region—a testament to his visionary leadership and enduring impact. Beyond his professional accomplishments, Niilo was a kidney transplant recipient and a passionate advocate for organ donation. His resilience and advocacy reflected his deep commitment to helping others, even in the face of personal challenges. At his request, donations in his memory can be made to the Organ Donation and Transplant Research Foundation of Canada at odtrf.org. Niilo Edwards believed in the power of reconciliation through action. CEBC extends our deepest condolences to Niilo’s family, friends, and colleagues. His contributions to economic reconciliation, Indigenous leadership, and sustainable development will leave a lasting impact for generations to come. He will be profoundly missed.

Historic power deal puts Indigenous communities at heart of B.C.'s energy future As BC Hydro’s call for power signals the province’s commitment to expanding clean energy capacity, with a minimum 25 per cent First Nations equity stake, the need for Indigenous participation has never been greater., writes Kwatuuma Cole Sayers Full Piece: https://lnkd.in/ghrQcBeK

CEBC Congratulates Successful Proponents of BC Hydro’s Call for Power, Applauds Historic Advancements in Reconciliation and Clean Energy Development Vancouver, BC – December 9, 2024 – The Clean Energy Association of British Columbia (CEBC) congratulates the successful proponents of BC Hydro’s historic call for power. The selection of new wind energy projects – including multiple CEBC members – marks a major milestone in advancing reconciliation, economic growth, and clean energy development across the province. “The Clean Energy Association of British Columbia congratulates the successful proponents of BC Hydro's call for power, which advances reconciliation through Indigenous ownership and will deliver economic benefits for all British Columbians. This procurement marks historic and tangible progress on climate action and reconciliation. Accelerating these projects will solidify BC's position as a global clean energy leader and bring affordable, clean electricity to our grid—enabling the sustainable growth and electrification of our communities and industries,” said Kwatuuma Cole Sayers, Executive Director of CEBC. BC Hydro has announced 30-year electricity purchase agreements with nine clean and renewable wind energy projects, representing a significant step toward ensuring a clean, and affordable energy future for British Columbia. These projects will provide approximately 5,000 gigawatt hours of electricity annually—enough to power 430,000 homes—boosting BC Hydro’s energy supply by 8 per cent. According to the Government of BC, the average price of power from the successful projects in this call is about 40% lower than BC Hydro’s last call for clean power in 2010. CEBC commends BC Hydro for requiring a minimum requirement of 25 per cent First Nations equity ownership in these projects, a target that has been surpassed with an average of 50 per cent equity ownership achieved. This level of Indigenous participation reflects a transformative commitment to reconciliation, providing First Nations with opportunities for self-determination, long-term revenue streams, and economic sovereignty. “These projects demonstrate how clean energy can foster collaboration and create shared prosperity,” added Sayers. “By embedding equity into the framework of clean energy development, BC is setting a model for the rest of the world.” The selected projects represent up to $6 billion in private capital investment across BC, with $3 billion under First Nations ownership. Geographically diverse, these projects span nearly every region in the province, creating approximately 2,000 jobs annually during construction. The projects are expected to begin coming online by late 2029, with full operational capacity reached by fall 2031. View Full Release: https://lnkd.in/gnVarjb8

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this year’s First Nations Energy Summit! We’re excited to share more photos and reflections from our time together in the coming days and weeks.   Mark your calendars for our next awesome event! Generate 2025 takes place on May 12 + 13th, at the Westin Bayshore in Vancouver on the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. Stay tuned for more details!

At this year’s First Nations Energy Summit, Minister of Energy and Climate Solutions Adrian Dix committed to working with urgency to get clean energy projects built as soon as possible. He highlighted how successful projects under BC Hydro's call for power will advance reconciliation and bring economic and environmental benefits to communities across BC. Watch this clip from his keynote!