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Ottawa Citizen

First Nations exploring more investment in renewable energy projects

Saskatchewan First Nations are looking to increase investments in renewable energy projects just as the province aims to grow the sector and reduce emissions in the next five years, according to a First Nations chief executive. Article content Sheldon Wuttunee, chief executive of Saskatchewan First Nations Natural Resource Centre of Excellence, an organization dedicated to supporting and increasing First Nations participation in the energy and resource sectors, said he sees opportunity in Crown-owned power company SaskPower's push to expand renewable energy. Article content Article content The utility aims to grow renewable power generation to 50 per cent of its overall capacity by 2030, while also reducing carbon emissions by 40 per cent below 2005 levels. Article content Article content 'Those kinds of opportunities, they do provide some great partnership potential for our First Nations,' Wuttunee said. Article content First Nations already have either significant or majority ownership in a number of renewable energy projects throughout Canada. A recent example is the Oneida Energy Project in Ontario, jointly developed by Toronto-based Northland Power Inc., Six Nations of the Grand River Development Corp. and other public and private partners. Article content SaskPower requires all new projects reach a minimum threshold of investment by Indigenous partners. Its most recent approved projects, the Rose Valley Wind Project and the Southern Springs Solar Project, are both majority-owned by First Nations. Combined, the two developments are expected to generate 300 megawatts of power, enough to support 125,000 homes. Article content Article content Wuttunee said renewable power projects using wind or solar are attractive investments for many First Nations, in part because community members are more supportive of projects with a lower environmental impact. Article content Article content 'There's not (as) big an impact to Mother Earth,' he said. Article content Wuttunee said SaskPower's model for renewable energy procurement helps the utility meet its targets and allows First Nations to build partnerships with one another. Economic benefits tend to vary depending on the size of the development, but the positive impact goes beyond financial interests. Article content 'It's the empowerment of being able to be involved in such a large project,' he said. 'It provides them a different outlook for the future.' Article content Wind and solar power are not the only sectors where Saskatchewan First Nations Natural Resource Centre of Excellence sees First Nations involvement expanding. Wuttunee said the organization, which is owned by all 74 of Saskatchewan's First Nations, has identified potential opportunities in critical mineral development, along with the deployment of nuclear power generation.