Backgrounder: Canada Supports Alberta’s Clean Energy Sector and Its Workers

On December 13, 2024, Member of Parliament George Chahal announced investments totalling over $152 million for nine clean electricity projects in Alberta through the Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways Program (SREPs).

These solar, wind energy and grid infrastructure upgrade projects will support the delivery of reliable, affordable and clean electricity in Alberta, a key sector for economic growth. 

Once commissioned, these Alberta projects are expected to displace approximately 760 thousand tonnes of CO2e per year and will generate enough electricity to power upward of 170 thousand homes.

Killarney Lake Solar Project  
Recipient: Akamihk Energy Incorporated (100-percent owned by Montana First Nation) 
Project location: near Ribstone, Alberta 
Funding from SREPs: $25,000,000 
Project summary: The Killarney Lake Solar Project is a 22-megawatt (MW) solar project in eastern Alberta. The project will install bifacial panels, reducing GHG emissions by approximately 20,000 tonnes of CO2e a year, equivalent to taking up to an estimated 5,900 gas-powered cars off the road. The project will bring significant economic and social benefits, such as job creation and training for Montana First Nation members, while using local and regional contractors including Montana First Nation–owned and –operated businesses. It will create up to 90 jobs and generate enough emissions-free electricity to power more than 3,785 Alberta homes annually.

Sadee Solar Power Project  
Recipient: It’oa Energy Inc.   
Project location: near Metiskow, Alberta 
Funding from SREPs: $25,000,000 
Project summary: The SunRISE Solar Project is a 14-megawatt (MW) solar project in eastern Alberta. The project will reduce GHG emissions by approximately 11,000 tonnes of CO2e a year, equivalent to taking up to an estimated 3,400 gas-powered cars off the road. The project will be 100-percent owned by an Indigenous corporation and will showcase the opportunity for Indigenous organizations to take part in the energy transition by generating renewable energy. It will create up to 70 jobs and generate enough emissions-free electricity for more than 250 Alberta homes annually.

AECG Forty Mile Wind Farm  
Recipient: AECG Forty Mile Wind LP (ACCIONA Energía)  
Project location: Forty Mile Creek, Alberta   
Funding from SREPs: $25,000,000  
Project summary: The AECG Forty Mile Wind Farm is a 280-megawatt (MW) onshore wind energy project located approximately six kilometres east of Bow Island in the County of Forty Mile Alberta. The project will install up to 49 turbines, reducing GHG emissions by approximately 450,000 tonnes of CO2e a year, equivalent to taking up to an estimated 139,000 gas-powered cars off the road. The AECG Forty Mile Wind Farm will bring significant economic and social benefits, such as tax revenues throughout the life of the project, job creation and boosting local supply chains in the community. The project will create up to 2,400 jobs and generate enough emissions-free electricity to power more than 84,000 Alberta homes annually. 

Big Sky Solar Power Project  
Recipient: Big Sky Solar LP (RES)  
Project location: Acadia Valley, Alberta   
Funding from SREPs: $25,000,000  
Project summary: The Big Sky Solar Power Project is a 140-megawatt (MW) solar energy–generating project located just west of the Acadia Valley hamlet in Alberta. The project will comprise bifacial solar modules, reducing GHG emissions by approximately 135,000 tonnes of CO2e a year, equivalent to taking 41,000 gas-powered cars off the road. Big Sky Solar will be one of the largest solar projects in Alberta and will bring significant economic and social benefits, such as tax revenues throughout the life of the project, job creation and boosting local supply chains in the community. The project will create up to 550 jobs and generate enough emissions-free electricity to power more than 26,000 Alberta homes annually. 

   
Wild Rose 2 Wind Farm  
Recipient: Wild Rose 2 Wind LP (Capstone)  
Project location: Cypress County, Alberta   
Funding from SREPs: $25,000,000  
Project summary: The Wild Rose 2 Wind Farm is a 192-megawatt (MW) onshore wind farm located in Cypress County, Alberta. The project will contribute to GHG emissions reduction by approximately 300,000 tonnes of CO2e a year, equivalent to taking 94,000 gas-powered cars off the road. The project will also increase renewable energy capacity, grid services and overall electrical system reliability in Alberta by reducing load on the bulk transmission system. Wild Rose 2 Wind Farm will create up to 570 jobs and generate enough emissions-free energy to power more than 55,000 Alberta homes annually. The project will bring significant economic and social benefits, such as tax revenues, job creation, capacity building and boosting local supply chains in Cypress County communities. 

Gleichen Solar Project
Project location: Gleichen, Alberta  
Recipient: Ermineskin Cree Nation – TIU Canada Solar Project Limited Partnership.  
Funding from SREPs: $21,324,508
Project summary: The Gleichen Solar Project is a 13-megawatt (MW) solar project in southern Alberta built in partnership between Ermineskin First Nation and TIU Canada. The project will reduce GHG emissions by approximately 110,000 tonnes of CO2e a year, equivalent to taking up to an estimated 3,000 gas-powered cars off the road. Gleichen Solar Project will bring significant economic and social benefits and create a new revenue source from renewable energy for the Ermineskin First Nation while creating new employment opportunities during construction and operations. It will create up to 60 jobs and generate enough emissions-free electricity to power more than 2,000 Alberta homes annually.

SunRISE Solar Project  
Recipient: Clean Communities Corporation 
Project location: Cardston, Alberta 
Funding from SREPs: $6,265,000 
Project summary: The SunRISE Solar Project is a four-megawatt (MW) solar project in southern Alberta. The project will install bifacial panels and demonstrate at utility-scale leading approaches to agricultural integration within solar systems. It will reduce GHG emissions by approximately 2,800 tonnes of CO2e a year, equivalent to taking up to an estimated 850 gas-powered cars off the road. SunRISE will bring significant economic and social benefits, such the demonstration of integrating established renewables with existing and future agricultural operations to avoid competition between clean energy and food production for land use. Clean Communities Corporation is majority Indigenous-owned. Proceeds from the project will be reinvested in Indigenous infrastructure and humanitarian initiatives. It will generate enough emissions-free electricity to power more than 550 Alberta homes annually.

Demonstration of DC Secondary Distribution Grid Upgrade Technology  
Recipient: Electronic Grid Systems Inc.
Project location: Edmonton, Alberta 
Funding from SREPs: $745,000
Project summary: The project builds capacity for piloting and scaling up distribution-grid infrastructure upgrades. The new technology, based on power converters, will double grid capacity with a 70-percent cost reduction and enhance grid resiliency to enable 100-percent electric vehicle adoptions and residential solar panels. The proponent is closely working with utility partners to validate results for larger-scale implementation. Detailed engineering plans for the installation and commissioning of the solution will be studied and developed, production capacity will be established, and regulatory approvals will be obtained for residential pilots.

FN Power First Nation Empowerment Capacity Development  
Recipient: First Nation Power Development Inc.  
Project location: Alberta  
Funding from SREPs: $1,133,800 
Project summary: FNpower, a 100-percent Indigenous-owned organization, was established to empower Indigenous communities to play a more active leadership role in Canada’s energy transition. This project addressed financial and capacity barriers by preparing selected Indigenous partners for participation in the renewable energy market. The project also created a framework to share with Indigenous communities seeking to navigate and accelerate their path toward 100-percent Indigenous ownership in the renewable energy market. With the support provided by FNPower through this project, Alexander First Nation purchased and began development of the Tilley Solar Project in Newell, Alberta.