Indigenous communities are engaging in the transition to green energy in Canada, being involved in hundreds of projects.
A 2020 report by the non-profit organization Indigenous Clean Energy identified 197 medium-to-large renewable energy generation projects that involve Indigenous participation. The organization’s executive director, Chris Henderson, says Indigenous participation will only grow as Canada seeks to produce clean energy to meet its environmental targets.
According to him, Canada’s energy and electricity sectors have always been dominated by big oil and gas companies and governments, but new technologies allow for greater diversification and the future of energy is ” decolonized”.
In fact, he calculates that Indigenous communities now own, co-own or have a financial benefit arrangement for nearly 20% of Canada’s electricity generation infrastructure. “They are the largest asset owners, outside of utilities,” he says.
Several projects
Cowessess First Nation’s $21 million Awasis solar project connects to Saskatchewan’s power grid and is capable of powering 2,500 homes a year, on average. Over its lifespan, estimated at 35 years, the solar park is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 350,000 tonnes, equivalent to the emissions of more than 70,000 gasoline-powered cars driven for one year.
Other projects include the Meadow Lake Tribal Council Bioenergy Centre, also in Saskatchewan, which will generate green energy from wood waste from nearby sawmills. In Nova Scotia, Membertou, Paqtnkek and Potlotek First Nations are partners in what will be the first green hydrogen and ammonia project in North America. In Ontario, the Oneida Energy Storage Project, developed in partnership with the Six Nations of the Grand River Band and recently approved, will become the largest battery storage project in Canada.
As part of its commitment to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, the Government of Canada has set a goal of creating a carbon neutral electricity grid by 2035. According to experts, such a goal would require tens of billions of dollars of public and private investment, and it seems clear that Indigenous communities ― as landowners and treaty rights holders ― are poised to reap a significant share of this economic benefit.
Private companies have partnered with Indigenous communities on energy infrastructure projects for decades. But early agreements usually involved securing construction jobs or other financial benefits for the community.
Indigenous communities are now claiming the right to be involved as full owners. Cowessess, for example, owns 95% of the Awasis solar project with the possibility of becoming a full owner after five years.
Significant federal financial support is available for Indigenous-led clean energy projects. Awasis received $18.5 million from the federal government. But Henderson notes that many other clean energy projects are the result of agreements between Indigenous communities and private companies, and are funded entirely by private capital.