Wind power could provide more than economic benefits

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There could soon be more windmills dotting the skyline in southern Alberta thanks to a joint venture between the Peigan Nation and a First Nation in Ontario.

The Peigan Nation, located west of Lethbridge, has become the latest group to embrace green energy by agreeing to a partnership with Advanced Thermodynamics, a company from the Batchewana Band, in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., in a wind power manufacturing deal.

The plan could see the Peigan Nation building and erecting more than 100 wind power turbines. The community could then rely on wind power instead of conventional power sources on the reserve. Wind propelled turbines could translate into money savings for the cash-strapped reserve.

The plan that's been in the works since December 1996 and wind energy project coordinator William Big Bull is hopeful that the results for the Peigan Nation will be measured in more than economic benefits. He hopes it will lead to more Aboriginal business ventures in the future.

"For First Nations, they have to start looking within their own jurisdiction for their power base instead of looking at government for solutions," said the former band councillor. "We can't maintain the type of lifestyle we have today, because it doesn't do anything for our future."

This joint venture, called Weather Dancer Wind Power, will manufacture, erect and maintain Nordex turbines. Weather Dancer will also handle distribution of the turbines in the western market.

Already, the company has sold four turbines. Two have been purchased by the Peigan Nation, while the other two have "tentatively" been spoken for by an outside interest. Big Bull would not reveal the name of the second purchaser. In total, the Peigan Nation is working toward erecting 101 turbines, each producing a single megawatt of power.

Big Bull sees the partnership as a step toward better sufficiency of Native people.

"We're dealing with another First Nation, which is important here," he said. "The more we support each other as First Nations, the more realistic our interests are."

The band council will be putting a referendum to the Peigan people within the next couple of months asking for their input as to where the turbines should be located. The preferred location at this point, said Big Bull, is 1,400 acres of land in the northeast corner of the Peigan reserve, about 12 miles from the town site.

"It's community pasture land, right now used for horses and cattle," said Big Bull. "There's no individual land interest, that's why we chose community property."

If the members give the go ahead, the first turbine could go up by August, followed by three others by the end of October. Initially, this will operate as a test site.

Negotiations, which "look favorable", said Big Bull, are presently taking place with TransAlta, which has a major substation and major transmission lines on the reserve.

"At the end of the day, we'll become a (power) generator as well as TransAlta," said Big Bull.

There are presently 35 power generators in Alberta, he explained, with the Peigan Nation hoping to becoming the 36th. All generators sells into a power pool.

Big Bull isn't saying that the reserve can do without their current power source. He said TransAlta isn't being squeezed out of the picture by the windmills.

"Wind power doesn't work every day. When wind power is down, TransAlta kicks in, so we have to partner up with TransAlta."

There is still a lot of preliminary site work that must be carried out, as well as regulatory approvals to be received and environmental and historical impact assessments to be completed.

Financing must also be put in place. Discussion for funding is ongoing with banks and private investors, as well as federal government sources.

"It's a long term project, no doubt," said Big Bull.

In time, Big Bull said the small manufacturing plant on the reserve will make way for a 3,600 sq. m factory, employing an estimated 30 full-time staff.

With the Peigan Nation's unemployment rate modstly estimated at 55 per cent and nearly 90 per cent of its 3,000 members on social assistance, Big Bull is confident that Weather Dancer Wind Power can provide some of the answers his people are searching for.

"We're trying to curb that economic leakage and use our direct interest to turn that money around, to turn it back into Peigan."

With the newly signed Kyoto Accord pushing developed nations to use green energy and with more assistance available for First Nations taking the environmental path, Big Bull is hopeful that Weather Dancer Wind Power has found its time.

"We've developed this project from the ground up so we have ownership of this project," he said. "We want to become a real player in the market."

By the time all 101 turbines are erected, the estimate cost of the project could reach between $160 and $200 million.