Rice attends energy summit
Supporting for Indigenous individuals to have at least half equity in renewable energy projects was a crucial message shared by Mohawk Council of Kahnawake (MCK) chief Paul Rice at last week’s Canadian Renewable Energy Organization (CanREA) Summit, where he and other Native leaders engaged with major stakeholders in the industry.
Rice attended the panel last Thursday in Montreal and spoke on the panel ‘Native Communities: Vital Actors in the Energy Shift?’ which was moderated by Hydro Quebec’s Emilie Senechal. He was joined by Jean Roy of Kruger Power and Jacques Tremblay, grand chief of the Wolastoqiyik Wahsipekuk Nation.
At the summit, Rice learned from other stakeholders about energy initiatives that could benefit the community. One area of interest was Hydro Quebec’s plans to invest more in solar energy. Rice expressed the importance of MCK being knowledgeable in various forms of renewable energy to enhance financial security within the region.
The MCK has a growing renewable energy portfolio, including co-ownership of the Hertel-New York Transmission Line with Hydro Quebec and involvement in the Les Jardins and Des Cultures wind farms. Rice emphasized the significance of First Nations having a minimum 50 percent equity in projects for economic independence and sovereignty.
Participating in events like the CanREA Summit and the First Nations Major Projects (FNMP) Union Meeting allows Rice to connect with key players in the renewable energy sector to strategize for future growth and development.
Reference: [email protected] Eve Wire, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
