Federal Government Invests in 12 New Wind, Solar and Smart-Grid Projects With Alberta Indigenous and Industry Partners

News release

September 18, 2023 Calgary, Alberta Natural Resources Canada

The Government of Canada is helping to bring affordable, reliable, clean energy to communities in every region of Canada. That is why the federal government is investing in job-creating clean energy projects across the country and working with Indigenous partners to get projects built. Alberta’s immense potential for clean energy development, combined with the expertise of workers and the ambitious planning of Indigenous and community partners, is creating great economic opportunities in the province.

Today, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, announced over $175 million in federal investments for 12 Alberta-based clean energy projects that will create thousands of jobs and enable local economic growth and while delivering clean, affordable energy to communities. Once fully implemented, these projects will reduce emissions equivalent to taking nearly 325,000 gas-powered cars off the road every year, resulting in cleaner air and healthier communities.

The following projects will create good jobs and economic opportunities in First Nations communities and provide clean power for years to come:

· Capstone Infrastructure Corporation, in partnership with Sawridge First Nation, is developing Buffalo Atlee, comprising four wind farm sites near Jenner, Alberta. These four projects are supported by a combined $60-million federal investment and are expected to produce over 200,000 megawatt-hours per year, enough to supply electricity for about 26,200 average Albertan homes annually.

· ATCO will modernize assets, upgrade systems and deploy advanced metering infrastructure across rural, remote and urban communities to optimize electricity grid management and operations, supported by a federal investment of over $62 million. These five investments will improve outage responses and enable customer options such as time-of-use pricing through multiple projects.

· Pattern Energy Group LP will deploy the Lanfine Wind 1 project, an onshore wind project in eastern Alberta, supported by a federal investment of over $20 million. The 150-MW facility is expected to generate clean energy for up to 45,000 Alberta homes.

· Renewable Energy Systems Canada’s Hilda Wind Power Project will add 105.4 MW of wind energy in Cypress County, supported by a federal investment of over $17.5 million. The project is expected to supply enough clean energy to power 32,000 households.

· Chiniki and Goodstoney First Nations and ATCO will deploy the largest solar installation in an urban centre in Western Canada, supported by a federal investment of over $13 million. Located in southeast Calgary, the Barlow and Deerfoot solar facilities are expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 50,000 tonnes annually and to generate economic returns for the First Nations’ communities. This is in addition to $78.8 million in support from the Canada Infrastructure Bank to enable the majority equity ownership of the project by both First Nations.

· Akamihk Energy, supported by a federal investment of $1 million, will investigate the potential to integrate all electricity distribution infrastructure and service on Montana First Nation’s lands into a consolidated microgrid; manage energy flows within that grid; and meter exchange to the Alberta Interconnected Electric System. Akamihk Energy is a 100-percent Montana First Nation-owned company.

The Government of Canada is committed to developing a net-zero electricity system by 2035 and will continue to work with partners to advance economic reconciliation and climate action while creating good jobs and delivering reliable clean power on the road to a sustainable and prosperous net-zero future.

Quotes

“The Government of Canada is investing to deliver more affordable, reliable and clean power in every region of Canada. Today's federal investment in Indigenous and industry-led projects, including those with ATCO, will create jobs delivering power to communities across Alberta as we seize the economic opportunities of a low-carbon future.”

The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources

“The clean energy future is here. It’s creating good jobs and more prosperity in Alberta and across Canada.”

The Honourable Seamus O’Regan
Minister of Labour

“CanREA welcomes this federal investment in Indigenous-led clean energy projects, which will create jobs and opportunities for Albertans while also helping the province deliver on its decarbonization goals.”

Vittoria Bellissimo
President and CEO, CanREA

Quick facts

These job-creating projects are funded through the Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways Program (SREPs). Budget 2023 committed nearly $3 billion in additional funds to this program, along with an estimated $26 billion for the Clean Electricity Investment Tax Credit. This program is actively supporting Canada’s ongoing transition to a net-zero economy by 2050 and Canada’s commitment to meeting Clean Electricity Regulations objectives.
Recent Natural Resources Canada clean energy investments in Alberta include:

o    Over $160 million for nine Alberta-based solar and energy storage projects to generate significant clean solar power and deploy 163 megawatts (MW) of new solar generation and 48 MW of battery storage capacity.

o    Nearly $9 million for the Métis Nation of Alberta (MNA) to deploy a 4.86-MW solar power generation project in Smoky Lake County at Métis Crossing in Alberta.

o    Nearly $3.4 million in support for Elemental Energy’s East Strathmore Solar Project to increase renewable energy capacity and grid services while also delivering progress on emissions reductions in Alberta.
The Government of Canada recently released Powering Canada Forward, its vision for transforming Canada’s electricity sector and meeting its commitment to decarbonizing the country’s electricity systems as it:

o    reiterates why the expansion of a clean electricity system is important and necessary to drive sustainable growth, enhance environmental performance and advance Indigenous reconciliation;

o    highlights the extensive work governments and partners have already done to create a dynamic, sustainable electricity sector; and

o    outlines how the federal government has and will continue to support, incentivize and accelerate the production of clean and non-emitting electricity.
Budget 2023 included $3 billion for Natural Resources Canada over 13 years to, among other purposes, recapitalize the Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways Program to support critical regional priorities and Indigenous-led projects. The Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways Program (SREPs) provides up to $1.56 billion over eight years for smart renewable energy and electrical grid modernization projects.

Associated links

Contacts

Natural Resources Canada
Media Relations
343-292-6100
nrcan.media.rncan@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca

Carolyn Svonkin
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Canada
343-597-1725
carolyn.svonkin@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca

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Date modified:: 2023-09-18