Thunder Bay, Ontario: Wataynikaneyap Power officially welcomed five Keewaytinook Okimanak First Nations Council communities into its First Nation-led transmission initiative on October 9. The group intends to build a new transmission line north to connect remote First Nations communities currently serviced by diesel generation. With the addition of these communities, there are now eighteen First Nations communities and a local industry (Goldcorp) participating in the project.
At a signing ceremony, the communities of Deer Lake, Keewaywin, McDowell Lake, North Spirit Lake, and Poplar Hill First Nation officially joined to become equal partners in the project.
“Our communities require a reliable power source to be able to participate in economic development opportunities taking place in the region,” says Executive Director Peter Campbell. “We look forward to benefiting from this very important infrastructure project – now and into the future.”
The Ontario Power Authority estimates that the cost of diesel generation in remote communities is three to ten times more than the average cost of power in Ontario. In addition, the use of diesel generation (rather than transmission) results in significant health, safety, environmental, social development, and economic impacts.
Wataynikaneyap Power, originally a partnership between 13 First Nations and Goldcorp, is a First Nation-led company working to design, permit, construct, own and operate a transmission line to bring additional grid connection to Pickle Lake and beyond to connect remote First Nation communities in Northwestern Ontario. The company’s vision is to provide reliable and accessible power for residents, businesses, and industry in the region and realize economic opportunities for First Nations.
For more information, see http://www.wataypower.ca.