Page 54 - BEC / JUNE / 2021

PAMZ Blue Skies Award

The Ermineskin Cree Nation and their Sundancer Solar Generation Project received a

nomination for the PAMZ Blue Skies Award in May 2020 for its innovation and application
of technology to reduce energy use and air pollution.

The Sundancer solar project was the 1st solar PV system approved and connected

under the Alberta Utilities Commission’s (AUC’s) Small Scale Generation Regulation

as a Community Generator. This was no small feat and required an innovative design
given that the regulation was adopted but the application rules were not created. The

Ermineskin Cree Nation paved the way for other community generation projects, working
with the AUC the wires owner (Fortis) to establish the application and approval process

for community generation projects.

Environmental protection activities that reduce air pollution, conserve energy or protect

environmental health Alberta’s electricity grid is majority powered by coal and natural gas

generation. This carbon intensive grid means that a solar PV system of the type installed
by the Ermineskin Cree Nation is able to offset significant amounts of carbon dioxide and

has a notable impact on helping to reduce air pollution in Alberta.

54 JUNE 2021 | BUSINESS ELITE CANADA