Several Innu Indigenous communities have partnered with Quebec’s power company Boralex (TSX: BLX) to create a 200-megawatt wind farm in the Labrador peninsula’s traditional Nitassinan territory.
Indigenous Services Canada announced the new “Apuiat Project” on Monday and its Community Opportunity Readiness Program has contributed $3 million to the project’s construction.
The wind farm is expected to create about 300 jobs while it’s being built and will serve as a long-term beneficial energy source for the Innu communities in Quebec and Labrador. Ten long-term jobs will also be created to maintain the site once it’s constructed.
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The Apuiat project is being overseen by the Apuiat Limited Partnership or Société en commandite Apuiat (S.E.C. Apuiat) and the Innu communities involved include the Ekuanitshit, Essipit, Pessamit, the Pekuakamiulnuatsh First Nation, Pakua Shipi, Uashat mak Mani-utenam, Matimekush-Lac John, Nutashkuan and Unamen Shipu.
“The Innu First Nation of Uashat mak Mani-utenam is proud to welcome the Nation’s first major project on its Nitassinan. We are ready to consider the Nation’s future projects, and we thank the Government of Canada for recognizing and taking part in its funding,” said Chief Mike Mckenzie of the Uashat mak Mani-utenam First Nation.
The renewable energy provider Boralex and those Innu communities have a 50/50 share of the votes on the Apuiat Wind Farm’s Board of Directors and will evenly split profits generated from the sale of electricity during the project’s life.
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The word Apuiat means “a paddle” and is said to be symbolic of moving forward together in the same trajectory.
“With today’s announcement, the economic benefits of this wind farm project located on the traditional territory of Uashat mak Mani-utenam will promote the financial autonomy of Quebec’s Innu by significantly increasing their level of own-source revenue and by enhancing their opportunities to develop green and sustainable business and infrastructure projects such as the Apuiat Wind Farm,” said the Minister of Indigenous Services Patty Hajdu in Monday’s news release.
Calgary’s energy company Enbridge Inc. (TSX: ENB) says Canada has 6,066 wind turbines, 259 wind farms and an 11,205 megawatt energy capacity from its wind energy infrastructure.
Canada’s government aims to have net-zero emissions by 2050 and according to the Canadian Renewable Energy Association, other major players in the renewable energy field include Pattern Canada, Potentia Renewables and Vestas (CPH: VWS).
Boralex’s stock stayed flat at $38.21 Wednesday on the Toronto Stock Exchange.
rowan@mugglehead.com
