Cowessess First Nation hopes to become the first green First Nation with their Awasis Solar project, which will provide enough energy to power 2,500 homes per year.
REGINA, Sask.-In November, a First Nation solar project was commissioned on Cowesses First Nation land about three kilometers southeast of Regina.
The solar project was developed by Awasis Solar LP, which is a partnership between Cowessess First Nation and Elemental Energy. Cowessess currently owns 95 percent of Awasis, and Elemental Energy owns the remaining 5 percent.
According to Chief Cadmus Delorme, the First Nation will have full ownership in the first five years. He explained that the power generated by the plant will be sold to SaskPower for the next 20 years as part of a power purchase agreement. Part of the revenue from the project will go toward Cowessess's goal of becoming Canada's greenest First Nation.
It will provide 10 megawatts of solar energy to the provincial grid-enough to provide power to 2,500 homes per year on average, according to SaskPower.
The Awasis Solar Project is expected to reduce GHG emissions by approximately 14,000 tons of CO2e in the first year of operations and by approximately 350,000 tons of CO2e over the 35–year expected life of the project. This is equivalent to the emissions of over 70,000 gas-powered cars driven for one year.
The project has also created training and skills opportunities for the Indigenous community and will generate sustainable income for Awasis Solar Limited Partnership that can be invested in future clean energy initiatives and other community priorities.
"This project is going to bring 20 years of economic prosperity," Delorme said.
"We will use the revenue from this project to reinvest in our renewable energy projects. Secondly, some of the profit will go to unfunded areas-language, family and culture off and on reserve."
Awasis is the Cree name of the Cowessess's last hereditary chief, Littlechild, and the solar project's name is meant to honour the chief, "who agreed to treaty, which led us to this relationship today," said Delorme.
Work on the site began in 2019, with Cowessess citizens managing the Awasis project. The federal government provided $18.5 million to Awasis for the project, allowing Cowessess to partner with companies like Elemental Energy. This investment included over $13.7 million from Natural Resources Canada's Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways program, $3.5 million from Infrastructure Canada's Investing in Canada Plan, Green infrastructure stream and $1.25 million from PrairiesCan.
"I think we all agree that we need to be thinking about how we build more renewable energy and non-emitting sources of energy into our grids," said federal Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson, who attended the commissioning. "It's going to be critical not only to achieve our climate goals but also to have a competitive economy going forward."
Awasis "is a great example of partnership between the province, the federal government and, of course, the First Nation who led the project," said Wilkinson.
Awasis is the Cree name of the Cowessess's last hereditary chief, Littlechild, and the solar project's name is meant to honour the chief.
"What Cowessess is doing today, you can do too," Delorme said at the commissioning, saying he hoped this project will inspire other Saskatchewan First Nations to take part in renewable energy projects.
"Just make sure you are at the table, knowing your values and empowering specialists to help lead a project of this nature to what we know we are capable of."
