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Bow Lake Wind Farm project finalized with Batchewana (updated)

An historic agreement was finalized today. Batchewana First Nation Chief Dean Sayers and Project Development Vice-President Geoff Carnegie (shown) of Calgary-based BluEarth Renewables Inc.

An historic agreement was finalized today.

Batchewana First Nation Chief Dean Sayers and Project Development Vice-President Geoff Carnegie (shown) of Calgary-based BluEarth Renewables Inc. celebrated their business partnership before construction starts on the Bow Lake Wind Farm, which marks the largest partnership ever between a First Nation and a wind energy developer in Canada.

At a meeting held at the Batchewana Elders Complex Thursday afternoon, a clearly delighted Chief Dean Sayers stated “this is probably the best news that Batchewena has ever had in our existence.  The enormity of this is incredible, it is going to help us to grow so much as a people.”

The 36 wind turbine farm, to be constructed in two phases and located 80 kilometres north of Sault Ste. Marie, will provide 80 construction jobs and ongoing maintenance jobs for Batchewana First Nation citizens.

Sayers said revenue generated from the wind farm, once operational, will go towards Batchewana First Nations housing, infrastructure, health care and cultural programs.

The wind farm has a $240 million price tag, said Aboriginal Business Network President Wayne Greer of Kitchener, Ontario.

$8 million of that comes from Batchewana’s own funds, Greer said.

Annual revenue for Batchewana, generated by power sold to the provincial power grid once the wind farm is operational, is estimated at $2 million.

“The money will start rolling in as soon as we’re plugged in to the provincial grid,” Sayers said.

Sayers stated “there are so many financial shortfalls in our relationship with the Crown, and with Canada, but this project will help us meet our basic needs in infrastructure, housing, health care, education, redevelopment of our political systems…this will help us in our governance issues.”

Carnegie stated that the finalized, formal project approval request will be forwarded to the Ontario Ministry of the Environment (MOE) soon, with a view to begin construction of the wind farm in August or September.

Carnegie told SooToday.com that the first phase of the project would see the erection of 12 wind turbines, operational by June 2014, to be followed by construction of phase Two’s 24 turbines, in operation by October 2014.

According to data provided to SooToday.com by BluEarth, based on an average Ontario household electricity consumption of 1,000 kWh per month, the output of the Bow Lake Wind Farm would power the equivalent of approximately 13,000 average Ontario homes.

The project has been in the works since 2007.

Since then, Carnegie said, there have been numerous public input meetings and environmental studies carried out.

“We’re honoured and proud to be working with Batchewana” Carnegie said Thursday.

Chief Sayers credited Batchewana for having a vision to move forward in the venture with BluEarth.

“We have an educated leadership, we met continually, educating ourselves on the business aspects of the partnership, understanding corporations and regulatory processes, keeping our people and our leadership focussed and on track, and always being available to answer questions.  Communication played the biggest role for us.”

Despite several public input sessions, the Save Our Algoma Region (SOAR) group remains opposed to the Bow Lake Wind Farm, calling for the area to be affected by it to be designated a heritage site.

Greer said “we invited SOAR in at open houses, and there was very open and very nice dialogue between us.”

Chief Sayers stated, “the door is not locked to SOAR.  There may be a need to tweak this agreement, with people who have some varying perspectives on the project.”

The full text of a news release from Batchewana First Nation follows

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Bow Lake Wind Farm partnership finalized

SAULT STE. MARIE - Batchewana First Nation and BluEarth Renewables Inc. (BluEarth) are thrilled to announce their partnership in the Bow Lake Wind Farm.

At the present time, this relationship represents the largest economic partnership between a First Nation and a wind energy developer in Canada.

Project discussions began in June 2007 with the original project developers and the Batchewana First Nation.

BluEarth, an Alberta based renewable energy developer, acquired the Bow Lake Wind Farm in 2011, and since that time has continued to work closely with the Batchewana First Nation to negotiate this partnership.

The partnership agreements became effective on December 21 2012.

Chief Dean Sayers commented: “This partnership demonstrates that opportunities exist for positive collaboration between industry and First Nation. Our project partners have demonstrated their commitment to BFN as a government. This mutual respect is the cornerstone of our relationship moving forward. Our First Nation is pleased with the validation of our sovereignty and our right to negotiate the use of our natural resources.”

Kent Brown, CEO of BluEarth, noted: “We are very pleased with the commercialization of the partnership, respecting the rights and culture of the First Nation. We have worked hard together to reach this milestone event and look forward to a long-term relationship with the Batchewana First Nation.”

As a result of this partnership, going forward the project proponents will be Nodin Kitagan Limited Partnership (for Phase 1) and Nodin Kitagan 2 Limited Partnership (for Phase 2).

The Project will continue to be known as the Bow Lake Wind Farm, however the Batchewana First Nation know and refer to the Project as Chinodin Chigumi Nodin Kitagan.

This project will contribute towards the achievement of the Ontario Government’s target of over 10,000 MW of non-hydro renewable energy by 2018.

Reducing reliance on non-sustainable energy resources, such as coal, and taking advantage of low-impact sustainable resources like the wind, are important objectives for the Batchewana First Nation today, and for future generations.

About the Project

The Bow Lake Wind Project is located approximately 80 km north of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.

The site is situated in the district of Algoma, and within the original reserve of the Batchewana First Nation.

The Project will have a nameplate capacity of 58.32 MW of clean renewable electricity using a total of 36 wind turbines.

Each turbine will have the capacity to produce up to 1.62 MW of electricity.

It is anticipated that the Renewable Energy Approval will be filed and construction will subsequently begin on the Project 2013, with the project generating renewable power by late 2014.

The electricity generated by the Project will be sold to the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) under 20-year contracts which were awarded to the Project through the Ontario Feed-in-Tariff program.

About Batchewana First Nation

A self-supporting, self-reliant, sovereign First Nation where individuals share a strong cultural identity based on a deep understanding of who we are on a clear sense of continuity with our cultural roots.

Where the Reserve communities have truly come together and whose members have a strong sense of self-esteem, respect for each other and who work together for the betterment of all.

Land Base

Rankin Reserve (15D) is the main location with Garden River Reserve on its East Boundary and the City of Sault Ste Marie bordering its west boundary.

It is approximately 1620 ha (4,000 acres).

Obadjiwan Reserve (15E) is made up of Batchewana Village Area and the Batchawana Trust Lands and is located on the westerly shores of Batchawana Bay on Lake Superior.

It is approximately 20 kilometres North of Goulais Bay Reserve and 85 kilometres from the City of Sault Ste Marie.

Goulais Bay Reserve (15A) is located on the shores of Lake Superior on the westerly shore of Goulais Bay, near Goulais Point and covers approximately 645 ha (1595 acres).

White Fish Island Reserve 15 has been used by the native population since 1621.

About BluEarth Renewables Inc.

Headquartered in Calgary, Canada, we are a private company focused on commercial scale renewable energy development.

Our goal is to sustainably build, own, and operate wind, run-of-river hydroelectric, and solar generation projects across Canada.

With strong financial backing from investors like ARC Financial and the Ontario Teacher's Pension Plan, BluEarth's combination of experience and access to capital is allowing us to continue to build great momentum that we will leverage to propel us forward to be the Canadian renewable energy leader.

www.bluearth.ca.

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Darren Taylor

About the Author: Darren Taylor

Darren Taylor is a news reporter and photographer in Sault Ste Marie. He regularly covers community events, political announcements and numerous board meetings. With a background in broadcast journalism, Darren has worked in the media since 1996.
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