Haíɫzaqv Renewable Diesel Pilot Overview
Haíɫzaqv Community Energy Plan
The Haíɫzaqv Nation is practicing clean energy sovereignty and resiliency by utilizing wind, sun, earth and water. [Haíɫzaqv Nation] will create a sustainable future in accordance with their ǧvı̓ḷás and Haíłzaqv worldview.
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A pilot study that brings low emissions and near zero toxics Renewable diesel (R99) to the Bella Bella fuel dock. Haitzaqv fishers and local boat owners test and evaluate.
A Visit Creates A Team
The impetus for the Renewable Diesel Pilot Project started in 2019 in the Haíɫzaqv Nation who live in Bella Bella, BC Canada. The Decarbonization Project vessel, Ama Natura, regularly visits Bella Bella, meeting First Nation band members, island residents, and boaters along the Inside Passage. Word of mouth introductions, from the Haíɫzaqv Chief Marilyn Slett, to Climate Policy Director Leona Humchitt, who connected with Captain Peter Wilcox to ask about Renewable diesel. Ideas flowed naturally and soon a grant request for the procurement and assessment of the business case for using Renewable diesel for the Haíɫzaqv community was underway. A knowledgeable group of dedicated individuals joined together as a team to provide guidance on opportunities that the Haíɫzaqv community can leverage to meet one of their climate goals relating to renewable fuels.
Captain Peter Wilcox shares a Decarbonizer brochure in Bella Bella, 2021..
Celebrating the first R99 fuel onsite with Haíɫzaqv members: Leona Humchitt and Malarie Dixon with Matt Stradiotti and John Scagel of North Arm Transportation, 2023.
The goal of the Renewable Diesel Pilot Project is to test and evaluate Renewable diesel fuel which is very low carbon to protect water resources and future generations. This pilot project is part of the Haíɫzaqv Climate Energy Plan, a multi-solution approach to protect the lands and water of the Haíɫzaqv Nation who have resided on the Central Coast of BC for 700 generations.
The Haíɫzaqv Community Energy Plan (HCEP) describes the next steps as an initiative that would bring Renewable diesel fuel to the Bella Bella fuel dock for local boat owners to test, evaluate and use instead of the fossil diesel currently being used. If adopted to substitute current diesel needs, an 80-100% reduction in air pollution from diesel-burning, while also reducing any potential toxic runoff in the water (salt and fresh) down to nearly zero, increasing the safety of seafood and marine life.
The Renewable Diesel pilot study started March 15, 2023, bringing local fishermen and boat owners in Bella Bella, a reliable supply of clean, low emission, Renewable diesel (R100). Renewable Diesel is a transition pathway from petroleum diesel. Haíɫzaqv Climate Action Team established the Renewable Diesel Pilot Project evaluation team in October 2022 with assistance and resources provided by the North Arm Transportation Company; BC Ministry of Energy, Mines & Low Carbon Innovation; Natural Resources Canada; Fraser Basin Council; and the Inside Passage Decarbonization Project. The fuel dock crew in Bella Bella, Parkland Fuels, and the pilot project participants are all joining together on a six-month journey to help establish safe energy solutions for a sustainable future.
