The Canadian province of New Brunswick is reviewing responses to a call for 40MW of aboriginal renewable energy.
The projects must be at least 51% owned by First Nations residents or entities.
Utility NB Power received 23 submissions to the ‘locally-owned renewable energy projects that are small scale’ (LORESS) program, which includes wind, solar, hydro and biomass.
The utility expects to review the proposals this summer, NB Power spokesperson Marie-Andrée Bolduc told reNEWS.
The provincial Energy Department also will hire a third-party to conduct a review of the social and economic impacts.
The projects are intended to help New Brunswick meet a 40% by 2020 renewable portfolio standard.
NB Power expects to issue another 40MW procurement in January 2017. The second call will be allocated to community entities, such as municipalities, universities, non-profit organizations, associations and co-operatives.
Existing renewable generation assets, including seven hydro dams and 294MW of installed wind, biomass and biogas production, account for about 31% of New Brunswick’s in-province generation mix.
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