Province encourages Indigenous participation in bidding for green energy

December 4, 2015

The provincial government has committed to looking favourably upon Indigenous bids for delivering green energy.

 “Indigenous participation… was something we wanted to ensure we were doing throughout, the sort of the growth, of the green economy such that the new economy does not replicate the social and economic exclusions of the old,” said Environment and Parks Minister Shannon Phillips in a news conference earlier this week.

Alberta’s climate change advisory panel, chaired by Andrew Leach, recommended that “the government introduce a premium in the adjudication of bids for projects that partner with rural, First Nations and Metis communities.”

“Dr. Leach made a recommendation that we allow for, in the bid process, Indigenous participation as part of the bidding process and that was a recommendation we quite liked,” said Phillips.

Nicole Bourque-Bouchier, CEO of Bouchier Group, applauds the government’s focus on Aboriginal-specific prospects.

“I think it’s a phenomenal opportunity for growing Aboriginal businesses,” said Bourque-Bouchier.

Bouchier Group is a leading provider of integrated site services to the Athabasca Oil Sands region. It is now one of the largest Aboriginal-owned and operated companies in the area providing contracting, construction, maintenance, and general site services.

Bouchier Group is not involved in any green energy projects at this point, says Bourque-Bouchier.

“One of the things we’re always looking at is how do we venture outside of our region and how do we expand on the growing technologies and get out there and grow the business into other areas,” she said.

The province’s push to Indigenous companies to get involved in green energy is an invitation Bouchier expects to see her company take up.

Already, green energy is something that Indigenous communities have embraced.

The Keepers of the Athabasca worked with Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation’s Housing and Special Projects and the newly created Fort Chipewyan Renewable Society last year to install eight solar panels on the roof of the Elders lodge, which feed into 16 six-volt batteries to store power.

“If we’re telling people there’s a timeline to fossil fuels and to show them how destructive it is, what are we telling them to do instead?” said Jesse Cardinal, coordinator with the Keepers of the Athabasca.  “Now as Keepers, we’re finally able to spend some time on solutions as well.”

This past May, Montana First Nation partnered with Bullfrog Power to construct a 20-kW solar installation on the First Nation's water treatment plant in Maskwacis and set up a solar training program.

On the Piikani First Nation, Weather Dancer spins east of Brocket. The First Nation spent about $400,000 last year to update the wind turbine, which had been standing still for some time. They are looking to recoup those costs by selling what energy they generate.

“I think we’re just on the cusp of beginning to do great things in the country and being given an opportunity like that is just another sign of what we’re capable of and we’ll rise to the occasion to do it,” said Bouchier.