SaskPower and the First Nations Power Authority have signed a 20 year, 20 megawatt solar power deal worth about $85-million.

10 megawatts will be generated at a shared site between the George Gordon and Star Blanket First Nations, while another 10 megawatts will be produced on the Cowessess First Nation.

President and CEO of SaskPower Mike Marsh said this deal provides a good opportunity for the First Nations involved.

“The opportunity is for them to bring a project of a 109 megawatt size together and bring it to a commercial operation at some point in the future.”

Marsh said it’s important to get First Nations groups involved in projects like this.

“As the technology for wind and solar has developed over the past 10-20 years, there’s really a growing awareness and a need on a part of First Nations that they want to be part of that progress,” Marsh said. “For their communities and for the future generations, I think it’s very important for them to be involved in it.”

President and CEO of FNPA Guy Lonechild said working with SaskPower is an important way to move forward.

“Indigenous people are natural stewards of the land, we live in harmony with mother earth, and to create sustainable opportunities in the area of renewable energy is just a nice fit,” Lonechild said. “It fits with our philosophy, it fits with I think our vision of a long term relationship through our master agreement with SaskPower.”

The project also helps SaskPower reach their 60 megawatt solar power target by 2021.