Staff
Rainy River First Nation’s 25 mega-watt solar project, located just northeast of Pinewood on the Morley-Dilke Road, was not successful in earning a Game Changer Award by the Canadian Solar Industries Association.
Representatives from RRFN traveled to Toronto last week for the awards gala hoping they would win the award that recognizes “the commitment and excellence by community and First Nations groups that choose to make a difference with solar.”
There were seven other nominees in the category and the award was presented to Lutsel K’e Dene First Nation.
“We weren’t chosen for the award and the Dene community won the award which we congratulate them on,” noted band manager Dean Wilson.
Despite not winning, he stressed RRFN is happy to have been nominated.
“It’s a pretty big achievement for RRFN,” he expressed. “[It’s] amazing how many people in southern Ontario know where Rainy River First Nations is now because of our project.”
He added their reward is getting the project operational.
Wilson said the project, which cost upwards of $160 million, is now operational and generating revenue.
“We’re producing power right now back to the grid as of February,” he noted.
“Hopefully, in a very short time frame, the facility will be turned over to our operation/maintenance group and it will be ours, and we’re on our way.”
Part ownership of the project is being retained by Ontario Solar PV Fields until it reaches commercial operation.
“What it means is we are part of the Feed-In Tariff [FIT],” Wilson explained.
The FIT program was developed for the province to encourage and promote greater use of renewable energy sources, including on-shore wind, waterpower, renewable biomass, biogas, landfill gas, and solar photovoltaic (PV) for electricity-generating projects in Ontario.
“We have a guaranteed contract with the government for the next 20 years to produce power to the grid,” Wilson said, citing the net cash distribution to RRFN over the next 20 years is estimated at $50 million. On average, this means a yield of $2.2-$2.5 million a year.
The band is planning to give some of that revenue back to its membership—estimating about $1,000 per member per year for 20 years, with the first payment expected in early July.
RRFN is also planning a grand-opening of the solar project, to be held in May in conjunction with its annual fish fry.
At that time, people will be invited to come out and view the solar farm.
