2024 Indigenous Communities Fellowship
FIND Energy: Empowering Indigenous Communities through Sustainable Clean Energy
What is the name of your solution?
FIND Energy: Empowering Indigenous Communities through Sustainable Clean Energy
Provide a one-line summary of your solution.
Bioenergy promotes sustainability, self-sufficiency, and climate change mitigation while serving as a model for many Indigenous communities.
In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?
Kinuso, AB, CanadaWhat type of organization is your solution team?
For-profit, including B-Corp or similar models
Film your elevator pitch.
What specific problem are you solving?
FIND Energy is committed to climate change mitigation and economic prosperity and self-sufficiency for indigenous communities.
The demand for clean energy has been increasing significantly as countries strive to reduce carbon emissions, mitigate climate change, and transition to more sustainable energy systems. This demand is fueled by international agreements such as the Paris Agreement’s global plan to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Alberta, Canada is the 3rd largest producer of electricity in Canada and has been historically reliant on fossil fuels. In 2019, about 36% of Alberta's electricity was produced from coal and 54% from natural gas. Alberta’s climate change legislation states that all coal-fired generation will be switched to Natural Gas or renewable sources by the end of 2024. It is predicted that only 26% will be renewable sources by 2025. Alberta's climate plan acknowledges the need to cut emissions but lacks key elements of a credible strategy.
Indigenous communities face a wide range of challenges regarding economic, environmental, and social sustainability. Unemployment in Indigenous communities is high due to geographical isolation, limited access to education and training, discrimination and racism, historical trauma, and limited economic development opportunities. As a result, these communities face economic marginalization which has perpetuated cycles of poverty and dependence on government programs.
Over many years Indigenous lands have been degraded due to oil and gas development, forestry, and mining. This has resulted in water pollution, habitat destruction, and loss of traditional lands and medicines.
The solutions to overcome these challenges must respect Indigenous culture and values and support Indigenous-led initiatives that promote environment sustainability, cultural revitalization, and community well-being.
What is your solution?
FIND Energy has developed a business model that supports Indigenous-led initiatives and promotes environment sustainability, cultural revitalization, and community well-being. The model utilizes proven technologies to convert woody biomass such as forest residue into electricity, heat, and/or renewable natural gas. The technology selection can be customized to the Indigenous Communities' resources and intended outcomes. Some of these desired outcomes have been affordable and reliable electricity supply for their community, employment, and heat for a greenhouse so the First Nation community can reduce their challenges facing food security and affordability.
Our model contributes to the fight against climate change through the reduction of Greenhouse gases, proper use of resources, and carbon sequestration. Electricity that is produced from woody biomass results in near-net zero emissions. This clean renewable energy will replace the use of high-emitting electricity generation from fossil fuels.
The biomass is feasibly sourced from local industry ‘s waste streams diverting from landfills and reducing methane release. The other biomass source is Short Rotation Woody Crops of Hybrid Poplar Trees. The hybrid poplar can be purposely grown for future utilization as biomass. The hybrid poplar sequesters 10 times more carbon than a natural forest and is planted in underutilized marginal lands. The trees help reclaim these lands and mitigate against drought and erosion.
The implementation of our clean energy model in indigenous communities establishes local employment, education, transfer of technology knowledge, financial stability for growing families, community economic development, inclusiveness and diversity, and environmental sustainability, which all align with Indigenous values.
FIND Energy signed a Strategic Applied Research Collaboration Agreement with a post-secondary learning facility, that is offering training and applied education to meet the needs of Alberta’s industries. The agreement was arranged with the intent of collaboration on research projects that apply to this project and the applied educational needs as required for the broader project and the Forest Industry. This is a quote from the post-secondary institution regarding their policy for Indigenous inclusion, “Through the Connecting the Four Directions strategy, we recognize our responsibility to develop opportunities for Aboriginal people, to represent the culture, and share and celebrate the successes of Aboriginal students”. This applied research and education opportunity will contribute to reducing the unemployment rate through meaningful education and the development of new careers filled by Indigenous people.
Which Indigenous community(s) does your solution benefit? In what ways will your solution benefit this community?
FIND Energy has an agreement with Swan River First Nation (SRFN) in northern Alberta to work in partnership on the development and ownership of a bioenergy facility. This project will directly benefit the Swan River band members through employment and training, and sustainable opportunities. The Project will support the development of the needed infrastructure for SRFN's long-term plan to become a self-sufficient nation as it will provide enough heat and power for the SRFN homes, community buildings, and projects like a greenhouse to produce cost-effective organic foods.
FIND Energy can partner with and transfer the knowledge and experiences from the Swan River Bioenergy Project to other First Nations across Canada that are looking for economic development, and sustainable clean energy solutions. The transferable model template will reduce development and start-up costs for future Indigenous-led projects.
How are you and your team well-positioned to deliver this solution?
The FIND Energy team contributes over 60 combined years of project and biomass industry experience to the projects. Our Chief Technology Officer/ Project Manager has an Engineering Degree and an advanced knowledge of thermal technology with multiple years of project management. Our CFO is an expert in financial management and strategic planning and also brings knowledge of large corporate mergers, acquisitions, and negotiation experience to the team. The COO and CEO are both of indigenous ancestry and both share 30 years of biomass sourcing and business management experience, along with dedication to contribute to the Indigenous community's well-being.
The model includes the development of a Steering Committee to lead each project in its development phases. The development phase includes community involvement consisting of multiple open houses that promote transparency and community involvement. The Steering Committee will be jointly selected by the First Nation Chief and Council and FIND Energy consisting of 3 representatives from each partner. Once in the operational phase, the partners will appoint a Board of Directors to the project JV entity. The Board of Directors will likely consist of shareholder representatives, an elder, and industry professionals.
A Facilities Operating Committee will be established to enhance the preliminary technology review and perform 3 or more economic evaluations of proposed technologies. The technology choice will be based on the First Nations' desired outcomes and feasibility study results.
Before the Facility construction, the project will complete the post-secondary training program, and employ a Forestry Technologist and a Plant Operations Technologist.
Which dimension of the Challenge does your solution most closely address?
Strengthen sustainable energy sovereignty and support climate resilience initiatives by and for Indigenous peoples.Which of the UN Sustainable Development Goals does your solution address?
What is your solution’s stage of development?
PilotWhy are you applying to Solve?
Although access to additional funding was initially the driving force to inquire about Solve, after reviewing the resources and benefits the interest in becoming a Solver is to collaborate with like-minded leaders in hopes to create opportunities, join networks, and support groups.
Gaining additional exposure and leadership coaching for advanced growth is also important.
In which of the following areas do you most need partners or support?
Who is the Team Lead for your solution?
Melissa Minks
Please indicate the tribal affiliation of your Team Lead.
Swan River First Nation - Treaty Status
How is your Team Lead connected to the community or communities in which your project is based?
Melissa Minks is a Swan River Band member. As an Indigenous Woman Entrepreneur, she has valued the inclusion of Indigenous women in business and the importance of inclusion and equality in underrepresented industries.
What makes your solution innovative?
The project will generate lower-cost power and heat for the Indigenous community. Currently, electricity and distribution costs are higher in northern and rural communities than in urban areas. This economic benefit and savings will allow the band and its member's finances to be spent on other needs.
The project is committed to Environmental and Social Governance (ESG) principles. It will repurpose forest residuals that are currently being burned which adds to greenhouse emissions. Heat, energy, and synthetic natural gas produced from the facility will reduce the reliance on fossil fuels.
Describe in simple terms how and why you expect your solution to have an impact on the problem.
Clean Energy projects in Indigenous communities increase employment which leads to better living community well being.
Using biomass to create energy reduces co2 emissions which contributes to the global fight against climate change
Indigenous-led projects increase economic development and sustainability contributing to self-sufficient First nations.
What are your impact goals for your solution and how are you measuring your progress towards them?
Carbon Sequestration is measured and verified annually over the life of the project.
Employment numbers that are directly and indirectly related to the project, including sub contractors.
Describe the core technology that powers your solution.
The Project model contributes to Indigenous Knowledge and Science through the transfer of knowledge from this project to other potential Indigenous-led projects, and Education and Research Collaboration with a post-secondary institute.
The technologies are boiler and pyrosis technologies that convert wood into heat, power, natural gas, bio-diesel, and biochar.
The sourcing of biomass is utilizing the best practices of forest management. Many of the best practices are being taught by indigenous knowledge keepers, and community-based approaches achieve great success.
Which of the following categories best describes your solution?
A new application of an existing technology
Please select the technologies currently used in your solution:
If your solution has a website or an app, provide the links here:
www.findenergy.ca
In which parts of the US and/or Canada do you currently operate?
Alberta, Canada
Which, if any, additional parts of the US or Canada will you be operating in within the next year?
Saskatchewan, Canada
How many people work on your solution team?
4 FIND Energy Directors
6 Steering Committee Members
1 Project Manager
How long have you been working on your solution?
FIND Energy has been working on this initial project for 2 years.
Tell us about how you ensure that your team is diverse, minimizes barriers to opportunity for staff, and provides a welcoming and inclusive environment for all team members.
FIND Energy has the following objectives listed in its diversity and Inclusion plan for short-term and long-term actions:
- Promote a policy of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- Identify and take specific action steps to address all forms of racism and unconscious bias
- Lead by example
- Establish policies and procedures for all aspects of business to include the fundamental principles of its Diversity and Inclusion Plan
Throughout all phases of human resources activities, this policy of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion will be paramount including:
- Recruitment – FIND leadership will search for and recruit qualified personnel who have the essential skill sets and values in keeping with this policy.
- Hiring – FIND leadership will hire permanent and seasonal workers that have the essential skill sets and values in keeping with this policy.
- Retention – FIND leadership will provide training and development in keeping with this policy to motivate and ensure high retention of qualified employees.
Our Company’s Values:
FIND upholds the values of harmony with nature and Indigenous values of integrity, respect, humility, and tolerance in keeping with the Seventh Generation Principle.
Communication:
The FIND is committed to communicating its values and this policy of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in public statements and internal announcements to its employees.
Indicators:
FIND will review on an annual basis its employment statistics for compliance with this policy and require its employees to submit a signed acknowledgement of compliance with policies of ethics and this policy. Noncompliance will result in follow up by senior management, training, and if necessary, discharge from employment.
What is your business model?
FIND main role in the business model addition to being an equal shareholder in the project is as the project developer and manager. The impact and revenue for FIND and the Indigenous community relate directly to how closely the actual outcomes and results are to the feasibility studies and proformas.
Our main priority of the project is the community partner. How the Indingous-led partner wants to utilize the finished product will determine the business strategy of that project. More urban nations that already have lower-cost electricity may be more interested in selling all power to the grid and collecting revenue from the sales of power, while other projects that are rural like our Swan River project, will be using the power "behind the fence" directly to power their communities buildings. The revenues and sustainability will be determined through pre-studies, proper technology section, and market research.
Training and transfer of knowledge to the local members and the nation will be a priority. Once the operation phase is in full swing and proper training is complete, FIND will transfer the management role to the Nation at their discretion.
Do you primarily provide products or services directly to individuals, to other organizations, or to the government?
Individual consumers or stakeholders (B2C)What is your plan for becoming financially sustainable, and what evidence can you provide that this plan has been successful so far?
FIND is a successful applicant to the Clean Fuels Fund - Natural Resources Canada. The fund will provide 50% of matching dollars up to $98,000 contribution for our first required feasibility study and report. The report will evaluate the project area and give a Biomass Development Zone rating. The matching 50% of this study is provided by industry partners.
FIND has also applied to the Indigenous Forestry Initiative which is also a NRCan program. We were invited to submit a full project proposal which includes the request for $935,000 for the pre-development and development phases to support the $31 million bioenergy facility. The requested funding includes covering the direct costs for the forming of a legal JV entity owned 50/50 by SRFN and FIND Energy, Open houses for the SRFN community and its members, Feasibility Studies, Economic Modeling, Technology selection, FEED activities, and recruitment of the required resources. These activities will de-risk the project for banks and investors to fund the purchase and construction of the facility. The applicant selection has been delayed to the end of April 2024.
Solution Team
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Mrs Melissa Minks President, First Indigenous Energy Services inc.
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Our Organization
First Indigenous Energy Services Inc. o/a FIND Energy