Lands

 

Wind Farm Project Gets FIT Contract

 

Henvey Inlet First Nation (HIFN) is pleased to announce that its power corporation, has been awarded a Feed-In Tariff (FIT) contract from the province.

 

The Ontario Power Authority (OPA) has approved 40 new large scale renewable energy projects, including solar, wind and water, representing more than 872 megawatts (MW). HIFN’s Nigig Power Corporation will produce 300 MW through its wind farm project.

 

The project will produce enough electricity each year to produce power for about 70,000 homes. Henvey Inlet First Nation Chief Wayne McQuabbie says, “Our project team has worked diligently for the past two years for the project to arrive at this point. It’s a monumental moment for our First Nation to be awarded such a large scale project.”

 

Nigig Power Corporation President Ken Noble says, “We’ve reached a major milestone for our First Nation. We’re now ready to choose a world class developer. Because of the magnitude of the project, we’ll also be preparing our community for prosperity.”

 

The Nigig Power Corporation wind farm project will boost the local economy through job creation and spin off benefits. Henvey Inlet First Nation is proud to be a part Ontario’s commitment to the environment through the province’s Clean Energy Act. It’s hoped construction will begin in 2012. Chief McQuabbie adds, “I can see a great future for our community, which includes cleaner air for our children and all Ontarians.”

 

Henvey Inlet First Nation is comprised of approximately 20,000 acres and is located along the shores of Georgian Bay, about three hours north of Toronto. HIFN has 650 members, with 175 living on-reserve, and is a member community of the Anishinabek Nation.

 

For more information on the community, go to www.hifn.ca.

Contact: Ken Noble Nigig Power Corporation Phone: 705.898.3366 Email: kennoble@vianet.ca

 

NIGIG Power Corporation

 

In 2014, Henvey Inlet First Nation - through its subsidiary Nigig Power Corporation - partnered with Pattern Canada to jointly develop the 300 MW Henvey Inlet Wind project, which generates enough clean, renewable energy to power approximately 100,000 Ontario homes.

 

Henvey Inlet Wind is a one-of-a-kind venture - it is both the largest single-phase wind project in Ontario, as well as the largest First Nation wind partnership project in Canada.

 

The facility, which is expected to generate more than $10 million in income annually for Henvey Inlet First Nation, is a source of long-term, stable revenue for the Band. Construction began in 2017 and employed more than 1,000 workers on site during peak activity, creating significant positive economic impacts for the Georgian Bay area's local economy and Henvey Inlet First Nation, including approximately $25 million in direct economic activity for local First Nations businesses.

 

Commercial operations started in October 2019 and created more than 20 permanent, on-site jobs related to maintaining the facility, and is expected to indirectly support more than 100 additional jobs through the expansion of Henvey Inlet Band programs and services.