After a long five year journey, the Tŝilhqot’in Nation is excited to announce that the solar farm is now feeding into the grid and operational effective May 28, 2020. The solar fam is located 80 km west of Williams Lake on what is known as the Riverwest Sawmill Site. The 1.25-MW solar farm is the largest of its kind in British Columbia and is a hundred percent developed, built, owned and operated by the Tŝilhqot’in Nation through its economic arm, Dandzen Development LP.
Construction started in October 2018 however; due to unforeseen and unpreventable circumstances the project was delayed, and completion was winter of 2020.
The 3,456 solar modules, will convert the sun’s rays into electricity which will then be sent into the BC Hydro grid that runs along highway 20, anticipate to generate approximately 1,500 megawatt hours of electricity per year. The Dandzen Development LP has entered into ac Electrical Purchase Agreement with BC Hydro for 25 years (2045).
We would like to thank all the funders who have assisted making this project a reality; Indigenous Services Canada, Western Economic Diversification, Province of British Columbia, New Relationship Trust, Ecosmart and Cariboo Chilcotin Aboriginal Training and Employment Centre (CCATEC).