Wataynikaneyap Power
Wataynikaneyap Power is a First Nation-led company in Northern Ontario that was established in 2010. Wataynikaneyap Power first mandate was to "design, permit, construct, own and operate a 230 kV transmission line" which would provide "additional grid connection" to Pickle Lake. The township, which is 530 kilometres (330 mi) north of Thunder Bay, is the most northerly community in Ontario with year-round access by road via Highway 599, the only access road to the town from the south. February 3, 2011, Ministry of Energy Directive and the Ministry's November 23, 2010, Long Term Energy Plan supported the construction of this transmission line as phase one of a two-part process, to improve the connectivity of remote First Nation communities. The "second phase would extend the grid north of Pickle Lake to service the remote communities." A December 6 news release said that "significant pre-development work" was completed.[1] The new transmission network will replace the polluting and expensive diesel generators that are used in remote Northwestern Ontario communities. Twenty First Nations communities are equal owners of Wataynikaneyap Power.[1][2][3][4] Goldcorp had "provided early development funding" and had partnered with the First Nation communities from 2010 to 2015.[5]
References
- ^ a b "New transmission line to replace diesel power in remote northwestern communities". Association of Power Producers of Ontario (APPrO). Sioux Lookout, Ontario. December 2011. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
- ^ "Can the Ring of Fire keep its promises to First Nations?". TVO.org. Retrieved 2019-11-01.
- ^ "First Nations-owned power company gets $1.34 billion nod to connect remote Nations to the grid". Windspeaker.com. Retrieved 2019-11-01.
- ^ "Ottawa to spend $60M connecting Pikangikum First Nation to power grid | CTV News". Retrieved 2019-11-01.
- ^ "Wataynikaneyap Power Signs Partnership Agreement with FortisOntario and RES Canada - Watay Power". Retrieved 2019-11-01.