SaskPower has signed a power purchase agreement which will lead to the development of a 100-megawatt solar farm to be built in southern Saskatchewan and operated with 50 per cent Indigenous ownership, which includes the participation of the Yorkton Tribal Council.
The new agreement is an important one YTC Chief Isabel O’Soup told Yorkton This Week.
“Our First Nations are always looking to get involved in long term projects with sustainability,” she said.
O’Soup said when the YTC was asked to become involved the project immediately appeared a good one to be part of. She added that having a number of First Nations in partnership enhanced their proposal.
In addition to YTC, Kinistin Saulteaux Nation, Zagime Anishinabek Nation, Cote First Nation Chief George Cote, and The Key First Nation are involved.
“This project is another example of SaskPower’s commitment to economic reconciliation with Indigenous peoples,” said the Jeremy Harrison, Minister Responsible for SaskPower in a release. “At 50 per cent Indigenous ownership, Mino Giizis will be a strong example of meaningful First Nations participation in the power system and the provincial economy for decades to come.”
“Mino Giizis will be one of Saskatchewan’s largest solar facilities, generating enough emissions-free electricity to power 30,000 Saskatchewan homes on average,” said Rupen Pandya, SaskPower President and CEO in the same release. “With 300 MW of solar power currently in development, SaskPower is continuing to take an all-of-the-above approach to ensuring reliable and affordable power for our customers.”
The partners have signed a 25-year power purchase agreement with SaskPower.
The Mino Giizis solar project is being developed by Neoen — a French renewable energy company — in the rural municipality of Lajord, southwest of Regina.
When completed the solar farm is expected to generate enough electricity to supply 30,000 homes across Saskatchewan.
The farm is expected to begin operation in 2028.
But even before the power flows O’Soup said there will be benefits to First Nations, including creating jobs through construction and operations, adding they are already working to put together training to ensure they are ready to take advantage of those jobs.
The Mino Giizis project was chosen through a competitive procurement process led by the First Nations Power Authority, a non-profit membership-based corporation. It was established to create opportunities for Indigenous communities to be active participants in the energy sector, and acts as a liaison between government-owned power utilities and various corporations in the power industry. More information about FNPA can be found at fnpa.ca
