More wind farms coming to Alberta thanks to partnership with Indigenous communities

CALGARY (660 NEWS) – It’s being called a historic milestone by the Government of Alberta in its drive to have 30 per cent of the province’s power from renewable sources by 2030.

On Monday, Energy Minister Margaret McCuaig-Boyd, Environment Minister Shannon Phillips and Indigenous Relations Minister Richard Feehan were joined by the leaders of three Indigenous communities and TransAlta to announce the next round of its renewable energy strategy.

Five projects have been approved near Fort Macleod, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat and Brooks thanks to partnerships with Indigenous communities.

One of those communities is the Blood-Kainai First Nation, and as Chief Roy Fox explains, they’re pleased to be a part of this initiative.

“This is another opportunity that we feel that the creator has given us. He has provided wind in our traditional territory. We thought it would be good if we were business partners in taking advantage of this opportunity.”

The projects are expected to create 760 megawatts of electricity and will cost about 3.9 kilowatts per hour, which is shy of the Canadian record-low price achieved by the Government of Alberta in its last round of projects announced last year.

Minister Phillips said all Albertans will benefit from the projects especially the communities they’re collaborating with.

“For too long, Indigenous communities have been left out of the overall economic development benefits. With this program, we are making sure that as we build on our traditional strengths in the new economy that we also have new opportunities for Indigenous communities.”

READ MORE: Canada to boost support for riskier forms of renewable energy: minister

As for the numbers that come with these projects, Phillips said that it will bring $1.2 billion of investment into the province while creating 1,000 new jobs.

CEO of TransAlta Dawn Farrell, who is helping build these projects, said it includes hiring Calgary workers.

“All these wind farms have to be financed; they need legal agreements. There’s all sorts of errand work, construction work. There will be on the ground jobs for sure down in Southern Alberta and all over the province where the wind farms are.”

The projects are set to begin construction in 2020 with completion slated for 2021.

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