Henvey Inlet issues first environmental permit for wind farm construction and operation

April 5, 2016
Henvey Inlet First Nation Chief Wayne McQuabbie with Councillor Brenda Contin signing Environment Permit Band Council Resolution for Henvey Inlet Wind Project. – Photo By Wanda McQuabbie.
Henvey Inlet First Nation Chief Wayne McQuabbie with Councillor Brenda Contin signing Environment Permit Band Council Resolution for Henvey Inlet Wind Project. – Photo By Wanda McQuabbie.

HENVEY INLET FIRST NATION  April 04, 2016 – Henvey Inlet First Nation (“HIFN”) leadership has issued an environmental permit to Henvey Inlet Wind LP (“HIW LP”) for the proposed 300 megawatt wind farm project to be constructed and operated on HIFN Land. HIW LP is a joint venture between Nigig Power Corporation, which is wholly owned by HIFN, and Pattern Energy Group LP.

HIFN Chief and Council voted unanimously to issue the environmental permit on February 28th 2016 at an Open Council Meeting which followed a Public Community input meeting. The decision to issue the permit was based on a rigorous environmental assessment and community consultation process, as required by HIFN’s environmental Land Laws. The process involved community meetings to review the environmental assessment for the project, which was conducted by AECOM, HIW LP’s environmental consultants, as well as third party reviews undertaken by Savanta and Arcadis, independent environmental companies retained by HIFN.

The final Environmental Assessment Report, as accepted by HIFN’s council, included special mitigation measures recommended by Savanta and Arcadis and adopted by AECOM, intended to prevent significant adverse effects on the environment and to protect against impacts on species at risk.

Chief Wayne McQuabbie said, “It’s taken months to develop an environmental regime under our Land Code and now it’s time to put it to the test. I’m very proud of our Environmental Regime which is the first one of its kind in Canada. It’s going to be a model for all First Nations of how to do a major project without having any significant environmental impacts.” The environmental process contained within the permit will dictate the start of construction. The project will see up to 91 turbines constructed on HIFN Land pursuant to the Lease previously approved and granted by HIFN Leadership and Members.

The project is scheduled to be built and operational by February 2018.

 

Henvey Inlet First Nation – Henvey Inlet First Nation, 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.