b'PROJECT PROFILEPictured here is the Electric House, the microgrids main hub, and the Battery Energy Storage System (white structure), which contains the battery modules that store the photovoltaic power harnessed from the sunway that limited the Indigenous commu- funding and equity to support projects likeIf he ever harboured any doubt, it was nitys involvement. In some cases, thethis, so finding willing partners to invest inthe forest fires that Ontario battled last community would own 25 per cent of thesuch an endeavour is essential.summer that fully convinced Esquega that company in 25 years. That would leave itgreen energy was the way of the future. with very little capital, and after 25 yearsGREEN DREAMS The province fought 1,198 wildfires, and it would be confronted with repairingNow, with over 300 community membersone fire alone blazed across 200,000 hect-outdated and worn-out components.living on the reserve, Gull Bay intends toares. Its believed to be one of the largest Instead of having a much-anticipatedcontinue building a green energy economyfires in the provinces history, with the hot, revenue source it was faced with theto limit its impact on the natural worlddry summer cited as a contributing factor. burden of making costly repairs.around it. King hopes to explore geothermalEsquega hopes green energy projects will energy and small hydroelectricity initia- go a long way in reducing Gull Bays carbon tives, and to expand the solar energyfootprint, thereby limiting the spread of In the case of Mashkawiziiwin Energy,project to fully supply their community innatural disasters moving forward.not only is Gull Bay the project owner,green energy.but the community didnt have to tapEsquegas passion for communal work was into its own equity to develop it. TheFor his part, Esquega hopes Gull Bay caninspired by his grandfather, who encour-$8-9-million project was funded by partnersreach net zero carbon emissions by 2025.aged him to be a good person, live a good and outside sources, so Gull Bay First NationWhile he realizes thats a lofty goal, thelife, and work for his community. It was his did not use any of its own equity to buildprojects coordinator remains unfazed. Ifgrandfather who told him to bring some-it, says King. He emphasizes that manyIm not aiming high then Im going to missthing back to help Gull Bay sustain itself, First Nations still struggle to find adequateanyway, says the 36-year-old.and Esquega hopes his work around green 54A CCAB PUBLICATION2022'