Canada announces $175 million for 12 new clean energy projects in Alberta

The Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) celebrates the announcement today of more than $175M in federal support for 12 wind energy, solar energy and microgrid projects in Alberta, via Natural Resources Canada’s Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways Program (SREPs).

CanREA’s President and CEO, Vittoria Bellissimo, joined The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, The Honourable Seamus O’Regan, Canada’s Minister of Labour and Seniors, Capstone Infrastructure’s Senior Project Manager, Sohail Aslam, Councillor Bradley Rabbit of the Montana First Nation, as well as media and invited guests, for a press conference in Calgary today.

“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,” Bellissimo said in her remarks.

The funding will be allocated to the following new projects:

• CanREA Industry Leader Member, Pattern Energy Group LP. The Lanfine Wind 1 project, an onshore wind project in eastern Alberta, will be supported by a federal investment of over $20 million. The 150-MW facility is expected to generate clean energy for up to 45,000 homes.
• CanREA Terawatt Member, Capstone Infrastructure Corporation, in partnership with Sawridge First Nation. The Buffalo Atlee project includes four wind farm sites near Jenner, Alberta. These four projects are supported by a combined $60-million federal investment. They are expected to produce over 200,000 megawatt-hours per year, enough to supply electricity for about 26,200 Albertan homes annually.
• CanREA Terawatt Member, Renewable Energy Systems Canada. The Hilda Wind Power Project in Cypress County, Alberta, will be supported by a federal investment of over $17.5 million. The project is expected to add 105.4 MW of wind energy, enough to power 32,000 households.
• CanREA Terawatt Member, ATCO. A federal investment of over $62 million will support work to modernize assets, upgrade systems and deploy advanced metering infrastructure across rural, remote and urban Alberta communities to optimize electricity grid management and operations. This will improve outage responses and enable customer options such as time-of-use pricing through multiple projects.
• Along with the Chiniki and Goodstoney First Nations, ATCO will also 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, a 100-percent Montana First Nation-owned company, will receive a federal investment of $1 million to 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.

“I want to congratulate these CanREA member companies and wish them success with their upcoming projects,” said Bellissimo.

These projects will help create good jobs and economic opportunities in Alberta communities, including First Nations communities, and will provide Alberta with affordable, clean power for years to come

Quotes

“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. I want to congratulate these CanREA member companies and wish them success with their upcoming projects,” said Vittoria Bellissimo, President and CEO, Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA).

“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 will create jobs delivering power to communities across Alberta as we seize the economic opportunities of a low-carbon future,” said 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,” said The Honourable Seamus O’Regan, Minister of Labour and Seniors.