In many indigenous cultures, the number seven symbolizes completeness and unity. To Enbridge and six First Nation and Metis communities in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan, it’s now imbued with a new meaning.
That’s because the number is in the name of a new wind energy development announced at a news conference held recently at the Hotel Saskatchewan in Regina, the province’s capital city.
The Seven Stars Energy Project is centered in a 200-square-kilometer area of southern Saskatchewan, southeast of the city of Weyburn. It will be designed to produce 200 MW of power.
Enbridge will develop, build and operate the project with the support of indigenous partners including Cowessess First Nation, George Gordon First Nation, Kahkewistahaw First Nation, Métis Nation-Saskatchewan, Pasqua First Nation and White Bear First Nations. They have created a new entity — Six Nations Energy Development Limited Partnership — to steward investment in the project.
“This is Enbridge’s first Indigenous partnership focused on wind energy generation and our first indigenous partnership in Saskatchewan,” says Matthew Akman, Enbridge’s executive vice president of Corporate Strategy and president of the Power group. “Partnerships of this nature are increasingly important in North America’s energy future, and we’re very proud to be one of the seven stars who will be advancing this important renewable project.”
The indigenous partners will have an opportunity, collectively, to acquire at least 30% equity ownership in the project. They will be supported, in part, by a loan guarantee of up to $100 million from the Saskatchewan Indigenous Investment Finance Corporation.
“This is a game-changer for the indigenous nations, Métis and First Nations,” said Chief Matthew Peigan of Pasqua First Nation. “This project will provide a stable source of revenue that will benefit our people for many years to come. We are pleased Enbridge sees that meaningful indigenous ownership is the way to build energy infrastructure in this country, and we look forward to developing this project together.”
Enbridge and partners will focus on completing commercial agreements and securing the necessary environmental and regulatory approvals to support final investment decisions, anticipated in 2025. The Seven Stars project is targeted to be operational in 2027.
