Despite the inherent subjectivity that exists within our MCEs, their results illustrate the challenges faced by renewable energy proponents on Haida Gwaii. Furthermore, because we gave our ‘advised against areas’ layer a high weight in all three MCE’s, the results highlight the effect that these preexisting economic, environmental and social interests on Haida Gwaii would have in preventing new renewable energy projects from being developed. However, in reality, these factors must be accounted for if renewable energy is to be implemented into the North Grid.

High-scoring MCE areas in the wave MCE were low in numbers and were in the range of 66-80, which shows the effect of the considered environmental and economic factors encompassed in the ‘advised against areas’ layer has on siting an array of WEC devices. The fact that no areas in our wave MCE scored greater than 80 is a representation of the tradeoffs which must be made in order to develop a WEC array off of Haida Gwaii’s North Coast. Almost any WEC array placed off of Haida Gwaii’s north coast would surely overlap with environmental factors (like shorebird breeding areas, for example) through the electrical lines that would be moored to the sea floor and connected to the electrical transmission network on the island. Furthermore, the actual placement of the WEC devices themselves would be hard pressed to avoid overlap with existing transportation routes and sport fishing areas, which are sources that could cause additional public backlash if not properly considered.

The solar MCE produced higher scoring areas, many of which scored in the 90-100 range. These results show us that there are many flat areas that are outside of ‘advised against areas’ on the island which could be considered as locations for a new solar farm. However these high scoring areas are sparsely located and relatively small in area, which highlights the extent of Haida Gwaii’s protected areas, parks, forests and stream networks. The solar MCE results are considered favorable because ample high scoring areas for a new solar farm exist throughout the island and relatively close to existing transmission lines and North Grid communities.

The wind MCE produced by far the largest total area which could be harnessed for electricity, and much of the area scoring higher than 80 in the Weighted Sum analysis. Optimal wind farm zones occupying the Hecate Strait are largely excluded from commercial, cultural, and ecological zones, though power output is considered less than optimum by off-shore wind standards. There is significant potential for electricity production, though it is more remote than the other alternatives, and will require greater investment in infrastructure.