Green Energy Futures/Flickr
A new power purchase agreement by Saskatchewan’s Crown-owned utility, SaskPower, has set the stage for a 100-megawatt solar farm to be built and operated with 50% Indigenous ownership.
The Mino Giizis solar project is being developed by Neoen—–a French renewable energy company that has built other solar farms in Canada— with the Anishinabek Power Alliance (APA), a partnership of four Treaty 4 Nations with political participation from the Yorkton Tribal Council. Neoen and APA will co-own the project through a 50% equity partnership.
The project “shows what genuine partnership looks like: shared power, shared responsibility, and shared benefit,” says a joint statement from five APA leaders: Kinistin Saulteaux Nation Chief Felix Thomas, Zagime Anishinabek Nation Chief Lynn Acoose, Cote First Nation Chief George Cote, The Key First Nation Councillor Fernie O’Soup, and Yorkton Tribal Council Tribal Chief Isabel O’Soup.
“Our Nations see this as a way to move into the future without harming the land, while creating much-needed revenue and employment opportunities for our people,” the statement continues. “Rooted in the spirit of Treaty and our responsibility to future generations, this historic moment is taking our Nations to another level in Treaty 4 Territory.”
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On of Jan. 14, the two partners signed a 25-year power purchase agreement for SaskPower to buy all the electricity generated by the solar farm. The project is set to go online in 2028, reports SaskToday.
“Southern Saskatchewan and Southern Alberta have the best solar resources in all of Canada,” explained Ryan Dick, Neoen’s province director for Alberta and Saskatchewan. “SaskPower targeted south central Saskatchewan, where they wanted the procurement to take place. So that’s where we began our prospecting in order to site the project.”
The Mino Giizis project was chosen through a two-year procurement process led by the First Nations Power Authority (FNPA), which provided technical support and evaluated team project proposals from Saskatchewan First Nations and their independent power-producing partners.
According to the Canadian Renewable Energy Association, the project will be the largest-ever solar farm in Saskatchewan and will bring the province’s total installed capacity of renewables to just under 1,000 MW. The organization says more such projects are expected in coming years, given SaskPower’s 2022 commitment to procure 3,000 MW of wind and solar by 2035.
Construction is set to begin in 2027. Neoen has said it aims to hire 350 people to build the project, 75% of whom will be Indigenous.
Dick said Neoen is working with First Nations and Métis educational and employment organizations “to really figure out how can we hire people, how can we train people, and how can we not only create jobs for this project” but also provide future work “in the growing solar industry in western Canada,” reports CTV News.
The Regina Leader Post says the project will create five full-time jobs once it goes into operation.
“When we look at projects like this, we see opportunity for our children and grandchildren, economic reconciliation taking root, and our voices and actions helping to shape Saskatchewan’s energy future,” the First Nation leaders wrote in their joint statement.
“That is what truth and reconciliation means. We move forward together, in a good way.”
Chris Bonasia
Energy Mix Guest Writer
Christopher is a staff writer for The Energy Mix, where he has covered topics related to heat and power, agriculture, and climate law. His background before joining The Mix includes 10 years of sustainable livestock production, and he continues to connect with the farm sector as a sheep shearer across Eastern Ontario. Christopher also writes for Ottawa’s Peace and Environment News and for the Quebec Farmers’ Advocate.
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Green Energy Futures/Flickr
A new power purchase agreement by Saskatchewan’s Crown-owned utility, SaskPower, has set the stage for a 100-megawatt solar farm to be built and operated with 50% Indigenous ownership.
The Mino Giizis solar project is being developed by Neoen—–a French renewable energy company that has built other solar farms in Canada— with the Anishinabek Power Alliance (APA), a partnership of four Treaty 4 Nations with political participation from the Yorkton Tribal Council. Neoen and APA will co-own the project through a 50% equity partnership.
The project “shows what genuine partnership looks like: shared power, shared responsibility, and shared benefit,” says a joint statement from five APA leaders: Kinistin Saulteaux Nation Chief Felix Thomas, Zagime Anishinabek Nation Chief Lynn Acoose, Cote First Nation Chief George Cote, The Key First Nation Councillor Fernie O’Soup, and Yorkton Tribal Council Tribal Chief Isabel O’Soup.
“Our Nations see this as a way to move into the future without harming the land, while creating much-needed revenue and employment opportunities for our people,” the statement continues. “Rooted in the spirit of Treaty and our responsibility to future generations, this historic moment is taking our Nations to another level in Treaty 4 Territory.”
View our latest digests
On of Jan. 14, the two partners signed a 25-year power purchase agreement for SaskPower to buy all the electricity generated by the solar farm. The project is set to go online in 2028, reports SaskToday.
“Southern Saskatchewan and Southern Alberta have the best solar resources in all of Canada,” explained Ryan Dick, Neoen’s province director for Alberta and Saskatchewan. “SaskPower targeted south central Saskatchewan, where they wanted the procurement to take place. So that’s where we began our prospecting in order to site the project.”
The Mino Giizis project was chosen through a two-year procurement process led by the First Nations Power Authority (FNPA), which provided technical support and evaluated team project proposals from Saskatchewan First Nations and their independent power-producing partners.
According to the Canadian Renewable Energy Association, the project will be the largest-ever solar farm in Saskatchewan and will bring the province’s total installed capacity of renewables to just under 1,000 MW. The organization says more such projects are expected in coming years, given SaskPower’s 2022 commitment to procure 3,000 MW of wind and solar by 2035.
Construction is set to begin in 2027. Neoen has said it aims to hire 350 people to build the project, 75% of whom will be Indigenous.
Dick said Neoen is working with First Nations and Métis educational and employment organizations “to really figure out how can we hire people, how can we train people, and how can we not only create jobs for this project” but also provide future work “in the growing solar industry in western Canada,” reports CTV News.
The Regina Leader Post says the project will create five full-time jobs once it goes into operation.
“When we look at projects like this, we see opportunity for our children and grandchildren, economic reconciliation taking root, and our voices and actions helping to shape Saskatchewan’s energy future,” the First Nation leaders wrote in their joint statement.
“That is what truth and reconciliation means. We move forward together, in a good way.”
Chris Bonasia
Energy Mix Guest Writer
Christopher is a staff writer for The Energy Mix, where he has covered topics related to heat and power, agriculture, and climate law. His background before joining The Mix includes 10 years of sustainable livestock production, and he continues to connect with the farm sector as a sheep shearer across Eastern Ontario. Christopher also writes for Ottawa’s Peace and Environment News and for the Quebec Farmers’ Advocate.
Your email address will not be published.
I agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
…
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