Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources this week announced federal investments valued at $160 million for nine Alberta-based solar power projects.
This initiative is expected to generate hundreds of jobs, bolster the production of clean solar power, and add up to 163 megawatts of new solar energy along with additional battery storage capacity.
The collective impact of these projects will stimulate local economic growth, offer clean energy to communities, and reduce emissions (equal to removing 47,000 gas vehicles from the roads annually), according to a statement from the government.
“We are investing over $160 million in job-creating solar energy projects, which will contribute 163 megawatts of new power generation across Alberta,” The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson stated. “By working with Indigenous partners and industry, the Government of Canada is helping to unlock the economic potential of our clean technologies as we advance toward a prosperous net-zero future.”
Capstone Infrastructure Corporation, in partnership with Sawridge First Nation, will launch Michichi Solar and Kneehill Solar projects. Both ventures aim to build solar farms equipped with smart-grid-enabled inverters.
Backed by a joint federal investment of $64 million, these twin projects are projected to create up to 240 jobs.
“We’re proud to be delivering emissions-free energy to more than 12,000 Albertan homes, creating jobs in Alberta and generating income for local municipalities and our Indigenous partner for decades to come,” David Eva, the chief executive of Capstone, remarked.
Concord Green Energy and the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation meanwhile are collaborating on three projects: Concord Monarch Partnership, Concord Vulcan Partnership, and Concord Coaldale Partnership. Each will install battery energy storage systems at existing solar array locations in Alberta.
With a combined federal investment exceeding $45.8 million, these projects could create over 100 jobs.
Métis Nation Power Authority plans to implement a solar project in Métis Nation Region 3 in southeastern Alberta, with federal funding of roughly $12.8 million. And Chappice Lake Limited Partnership, in association with Cold Lake First Nations, will install solar electricity generation equipment, battery energy storage, and AI battery dispatch software. Their project uses vanadium flow batteries from Invinity Energy Systems.
Enterprise Solar is set to launch a solar energy generation project in Vulcan County, supported by investment of about $12 million. This project could create up to 935 jobs. And Cardston Spring Coulee Solar plans to build a bi-facial solar plant in Cardston County using single-axis trackers.
These employment-generating projects are funded through the Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways Program.
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