First Nation eyes future with solar panel project
Chief: Elders drove initiative in bid to leave better world for grandchildren
REGINA As part of its efforts to go green, Pheasant Rump Nakota First Nation has announced the completion of a solar panel project, which saw a total of 56 panels installed on its five community buildings.
The project was made possible through funding from Enbridge Inc., and a partnership with Trugreen Energy, which provided the panels and installation at a discounted rate. The 56 panels have formed five systems totalling 16.8 kilowatts.
“This project was the brainchild of our elders,” Chief Ira Mcarthur said in a news release.
“During community discussions they continually raised the concern of ‘how do we leave a better world for our grandchildren and the generations yet to come?’ ”
Located near the Village of Kisbey, about 180 kilometres southeast
Rather than getting more into our oil and gas developments, we’re really looking at trying to develop some green energy projects as revenue-makers.
of Regina, the First Nation was also inspired to pursue green energy as a way to balance out its involvement with Enbridge and the Line 3 Replacement Program.
“There was significant concerns around the First Nation getting involved with Enbridge,” said Mcarthur.
“The elders wanted to be able to balance that out by having Enbridge provide some type of support in regards to a green energy project for the community,” he added.
Total project costs to date came in at about $68,000, but Mcarthur said they expect to see significant savings over the 20-year lifespan of the panels, potentially upwards of $2 million.
He said the First Nation typically spends in the tens of thousands of dollars per year on power consumption via conventional methods.
Trugreen Energy, a solar energy company operating out of Emerald Park, provided the panels and installation at about 60 per cent of the cost quoted by other companies, said Mcarthur.
Expecting to spend more, the First Nation is taking the 40 per cent saved and using it to invest in community social programs, including elder support services, culture, youth and language programming, areas Mcarthur said don’t always see funding from other sources.
Over the next two weeks, they will also be looking at the power consumption rates at some of the elders’ homes on the reserve, and will start installing solar panels on those homes most in need of help.
Mcarthur said the community loves the new solar panels, but is anxious to see results.
“Once we actually see the reductions in our power consumption from conventional methods, then I think then that will be something that will provide us some comfort knowing that this project is going to have an actual impact to our everyday life,” he said.
It’s not the first environmental initiative the First Nation has undertaken.
Mcarthur says that over the past four years, it has had an agreement with the oil companies operating on the First Nation to remove existing pumpjacks, close out wells and remediate those sites.
Approximately 35 sites of operation have been removed and remediated in those four years, leaving about eight on the First Nation’s land. Mcarthur hopes that number will eventually be zero.
“As a community ... rather than getting more into our oil and gas developments, we’re really looking at trying to develop some green energy projects as revenue-makers,” he said.
The First Nation is also taking advantage of Saskpower’s Net Metering Program, which offers a one-time rebate until Nov. 30, 2018, equivalent to 20 per cent of renewable energy technology equipment and installation costs to a maximum payment of $20,000.
Pheasant Rump Nakota First Nation, a community of 444 members — 130 of them living on reserve — had a ribbon-cutting event last Friday to celebrate the completion of the project.