Today, Minister of Natural Resources Jonathan Wilkinson, joined Awasis Solar Limited Partnership and its partners to celebrate the commissioning of the Awasis Solar Project, a 10-megawatt solar power generation project on Cowessess land at the site of the existing Cowessess Renewable Energy Storage Facility.

As part of the celebration, the Minister announced Canada’s investment of $18.5 million that helped build the project. This investment includes over $13.7 million from Natural Resources Canada’s Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathwaysprogram, $3.5 million from Infrastructure Canada’s Investing in Canada Plan, Green infrastructure stream and $1.25 million from PrairiesCan.

“The federal government is delivering investments that will support Indigenous communities in developing a cleaner electricity grid while creating sustainable jobs. Today’s announcement is an important step toward our goal of achieving a net-zero-emitting electricity system by 2035,” says Wilkinson.

The Awasis Solar Project will reduce GHG emissions by approximately 14,000 tonnes of CO₂e in the first year of operations and by approximately 350,000 tonnes of CO₂e over the 35-year expected life of the project — in total, equivalent to the emissions of over 70,000 gas-powered cars driven for one year.

Awasis Solar has 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.

Awasis Solar Limited Partnership is 95-percent owned by Cowessess First Nation, through Awasis Nehiyawewin Energy Development Limited Partnership (ANEDLP), and five-percent owned by Elemental Energy, with Awasis Nehiyawewini Energy Development Corp (ANEDC) having the opportunity to become 100-percent owners after year five of commercial operations.