PROJECT HISTORY
The challenge
The Otipemisiwak Métis Government sought to produce energy from renewable sources to mitigate the impacts of climate change and honor Métis values.
Salay Prayzaan Solar Generation Project
Supporting Alberta's energy transition
© Métis Nation of Alberta
The solution
We provided feasibility study services through to engineering program management to support the creation of a community-owned solar farm in Alberta.
The impact
Salay Prayzaan supports the development of Métis Crossing, advances climate initiatives, and drives revenue back into the local community.
4,700 tonnes
of greenhouse gas emissions reduced in its first year of operation
1,200 homes
can be powered annually from this project
100%
Indigenous ownership
The challenge
Built on the original river lots of Métis people in Alberta, Canada, in the late 1800s, Métis Crossing is home to a 512-acre Métis cultural interpretive center designed to promote an appreciation of Métis people, customs, and celebrations.
The Métis Nation of Alberta (MNA) leaders who led the Salay Prayzaan project, which officially opened in June 2024, expressed their community’s strong desire to be able to produce energy from renewable sources and mitigate the impacts of climate change for future generations as a way of co-existing with nature in a way that honors traditional Métis values.
The solution
The Métis Crossing Solar Project, also known as Salay Prayzaan, or “Gift from the sun” in the Métis language of Michif, is a community-owned renewable energy project at Métis Crossing—the first major Métis cultural interpretive destination in the province of Alberta, Canada.
The Salay Prayzaan solar farm project stemmed from a collaboration between the Otipemisiwak Métis Government (Métis Nation of Alberta), local governments, and several industry partners, including Arcadis, which acted as the engineering project manager and provided feasibility study services and assistance in securing capital for this key initiative under the MNA’s Climate Change Action Plan. In addition to Arcadis’ engineering project manager role, we supported with site selection, coordination of environmental and associated studies, the creation of the AUC regulatory application, interconnection application and grant funding applications, as well as owners engineering, seeing the project through from start to completion.
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With nearly 13,000 solar panels in its array, the Salay Prayzaan solar farm is expected to produce in the vicinity of 8,500MWh of energy per year. This will produce enough energy to offset the electricity load of all MNA buildings and MNA affiliate operations across the province, the equivalent of powering nearly 1,200 Alberta homes. The project will also facilitate a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of approximately 4,700 tonnes of CO2e in its first year of operation.
The project received approximately CDN $13.1 million in funding grants from the Municipal Climate Change Action Centre, Government of Alberta, Natural Resources Canada, and Environment and Climate Change Canada.
The impact
One of many solar farm projects Arcadis is working on throughout Alberta, Salay Prayzaan has the distinction of being an important part of the ongoing development of Métis Crossing and being a key component in the MNA Climate Change Action Plan. The project represents a major advancement for climate action, Métis sovereignty, and self-sufficiency in Canada.
Being a community generation project, a portion of the revenue generated will be shared with the local community in a development fund, in addition to adding to county land value through taxes and providing direct revenue to the MNA.
Arcadis is proud of its long history of working with Indigenous communities around the world and in Canada, including through our membership in the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business, the First Nations Major Projects Coalition and working with organizations like the Métis Nation of Alberta.
