KAMSACK — It was a chance for Cote First Nation residents to learn more about a solar power project involving their government as a partner.
The Mino Giizis project is a 50/50 partnership between Neoen and the Anishinabek Power Alliance. The location for the planned solar farm is 25 km south of Regina.
The information session, held on June 23 at the Band Hall of Cote First Nation, had door prizes for attendees and a provided lunch of hamburger or bean soup with bannock, plus cake.
Attendees were invited to apply for future jobs. At peak construction there would be around 350 employment opportunities available. Future jobs would include electricians,excavators, pipelayers and piledrivers.
The Anishinabek Power Alliance is a partnership between Zagime Anishinabek Nation, Kinistin Saulteaux First Nation, Cote First Nation and The Key First Nation.
Neoen is a renewable energy company with operations in Canada, Europe, South America and Australia. It is owned by Brookfield Asset Management, which is based out of Toronto. Neoen currently operates a solar farm, Fox Coulee, in Alberta.
Cote First Nation Chief Chief George Cote praised the good the project could do for Cote First Nation.
We’re really going forward into the future,” he said. “We’re really opening the doors for younger generations.”
Mino Giizis, which means ‘Good Sun’ in Ojibwe, would be a 100 megawatt solar photovoltaic energy generation facility. In 2025, Mino Giizis signed a 25 year power purchase agreement with SaskPower. As part of the agreement 100 per cent of the energy produced would be sold to SaskPower.
Photovoltaic panels capture electromagnetic radiation from the sun and convert that into direct current (DC) electricity. The photovoltaic panels are connected to inverters that convert direct current to alternating current (AC).
The project is currently in Phase 1 of a three part plan, with an expected start date for energy production in November 2028.
Environmental assessments and technical studies have been completed, the project is currently completing its regulatory permitting and interconnection studies. On site construction is expected to start in April of 2027.
Once Mino Giizis is up and running it would house 200 000 solar panels and produce over 225,000 MWh per year. This is equivalent to powering 30,000 four-person houses for one year.
