Lease agreement signed for Ontario’s largest wind power facility

October 20, 2015
Henvey Inlet FN Councillor Tony Solomon, HIFN Councillor Brenda Contin, Kim Sachtleben - Director, Business Development Pattern Development, Colin Edwards - Vice President, Business Development Pattern Development, HIFN Chief Wayne McQuabbie, HIFN Councillor Lionel Fox, HIFN Councillor Genevieve Solomon-Dubois, HIFN Councillor Patrick Brennan, HIFN Councillor Carl Ashawasagai.
Henvey Inlet FN Councillor Tony Solomon, HIFN Councillor Brenda Contin, Kim Sachtleben – Director, Business Development Pattern Development, Colin Edwards – Vice President, Business Development Pattern Development, HIFN Chief Wayne McQuabbie, HIFN Councillor Lionel Fox, HIFN Councillor Genevieve Solomon-Dubois, HIFN Councillor Patrick Brennan, HIFN Councillor Carl Ashawasagai.

HENVEY INLET FIRST NATION – Henvey Inlet First Nation (HIFN) has inked a lease with Henvey Inlet Wind GP Inc. (HIW GP) for the 300 MW Henvey Inlet Wind project – the largest wind power project in Ontario – to be built on Henvey Inlet First Nation Land.

HIW GP is a 50-50 partnership between Pattern Energy Group LP (Pattern Development) and Nigig Power Corporation (NPC). NPC is wholly owned by HIFN.

The lease was approved by the Henvey Inlet First Nation under the Band’s Land Code. . The Henvey Inlet Wind project will see up to 91 turbines installed entirely on Henvey Inlet First Nation Land.

Henvey Inlet First Nation Chief Wayne McQuabbie said, “I’m very excited about the signing of the lease – it’s a major milestone in development and the progress we have made to this point. I’m looking forward to the start of construction. This project means economic opportunity for our citizens, as well as the people in our region.”

Chief McQuabbie is also quite proud of the project. He says, “I’m thrilled with our ability through this project to contribute to a green economy and a cleaner Ontario.”

Colin Edwards, VP of Business Development at Pattern Development, said, “We’re honoured to partner with Henvey Inlet First Nation in Ontario to develop this exciting wind project on its land, which will create jobs and a strong new source of revenue for the community.”

Nigig Power Corporation President and CEO Ken Noble says, “If not for the commitment and dedication of a small army of people; Chief and Council, the Membership, the Nigig Team, Government and players in the Energy Industry, the project would not have advanced to the current stage. It took five years to find the perfect partner who will now take us through the construction phase to the online date.”

Construction is scheduled to begin in 2016 and it is expected to reach completion in 2018. HIW GP has a 20-year Feed-In-Tariff Contract with the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) for the power generated by the project.

Henvey Inlet First Nation is an Anishinabek community located along Highway 69 between Sudbury and Parry Sound. There are about 900 enrolled Members of the Robinson-Huron Treaty band, with approximately 200 of those residing on-reserve.

Nigig Power Corporation was established by the First Nation in 2010 with the sole mandate to develop the wind project. The project faced countless seemingly insurmountable obstacles but the continued commitment from HIFN and the strength and tenacity of the Nigig team achieved the joint venture we sought for five long years with a world-class development partner.

Pattern Energy Group LP (Pattern Development) is a leader in developing renewable energy and transmission assets. With a long history in wind energy, Pattern Development’s highly-experienced team has developed, financed and placed into operation more than 4,000 MW of wind power projects. A strong commitment to promoting environmental stewardship drives the Company’s dedication in working closely with communities to create renewable energy projects. Pattern Development has offices in San Francisco, San Diego, Houston, New York, Toronto, Chile, and Tokyo, Japan. For more information, visit www.patterndev.com.