The federal government is investing more than $33 million to support the George Gordon First Nation in building one of Saskatchewan’s largest Indigenous-owned solar farms.
Energy and Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson announced the funding Tuesday for the Wicehtowak Solar Project, a 32-megawatt facility being developed through Wicehtowak Solar Ltd., the First Nation’s renewable energy company.
The project, to be located near Regina, will use bi-facial solar panels and is being funded through Ottawa’s Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways Program. Officials say it will not only add clean power to Saskatchewan’s grid but also serve as a model for Indigenous-led energy development in Canada.
“This project will deliver more energy to market, reduce costs for Canadians and businesses, and create Indigenous-led economic opportunities that bring prosperity to our country,” Hodgson said in a news release.
The project is also breaking new ground in Saskatchewan’s energy sector. Under a 30-year power purchase agreement, the facility will sell electricity indirectly to K+S Potash Canada through the SaskPower grid — the first such arrangement in the province.
Leaders say the agreement will support the mine’s long-term operations while ensuring stable demand for the new solar farm.
“The George Gordon First Nation is a great demonstration of what Indigenous leadership in clean energy looks like, smart, forward-thinking, and rooted in community,” Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty said.
Don Ross, CEO of George Gordon Developments Ltd., said the initiative reflects both environmental and economic priorities.
“Wicehtowak Solar will not only produce clean power, it will generate opportunity and lasting value for George Gordon First Nation and beyond,” Ross said.
SaskPower president Rupen Pandya added the project highlights how utilities are adapting to changing customer needs while advancing economic reconciliation.
Construction timelines for the facility have not yet been announced.