Hundreds gather in Saskatoon for the second FNPA energy conference. Photo by Joel Willick
Members of the First Nations Power Authority, along with other energy sector officials, are discussing how First Nations can benefit from renewable energy infrastructure.
Over 200 people gathered at the second First Nation Power Authority energy conference in Saskatoon on Wednesday.
The Organizations CEO, Leah Nelson Guay, says the conference will aim to create a dialogue on renewable energy.
“What’s happening in other jurisdictions, where we want to go and how we are going to get there are the basis of these conversations,” she says.
According to Nelson Guay, many of the topics will focus on how First Nations in Saskatchewan can develop their own renewable and green energy infrastructure.
This is something she says can be very beneficial for First Nation communities.
“We can build our own on nation utility companies,” says Nelson Guay. “In Saskatchewan, we have a ways to go before we would ever get that, but in Alberta, it is within the line of sight. So that would be my hope for renewable energy on First Nations.”
Presentations at the conference ranged from industry leaders to First Nations, who have already pioneered their own green infrastructure.
Trevor McLeod, Director of the Centre for Natural Resources Policy with the Canada West Foundation, spoke about the hurdles facing communities who want to develop green infrastructure.
“The public is generally supportive of building new infrastructure, but there are always challenges with cost,” he says. “Obviously, the cost of renewable projects is coming down, but how do we make sure the cost is low enough to gain public support?”
Leah Nelson Guay says as First Nations begin to develop more renewable energy, SaskPower comes to them and asks how they can work with First Nations. She says SaskPower is starting to purchase power from industry and other third party sources. The FNPA CEO says this is where the opportunity lies for First Nations.
“You can sell your energy to SaskPower,” she says. “We are talking hundreds of millions of dollars so it is really important that we are involved.”
According to the First Nation Power Authority, its membership makes up nearly half the First Nation bands in the province.