Pic Mobert First Nation & Regional Power Celebrate Official Opening of Gitchi Animki Hydroelectric Project

Press Release

(July 27, 2016 – Pic Mobert First Nation Traditional Territory, Ontario) Chief Wayne Sabourin of the Pic Mobert First Nation, and Chris Lambeck, President of Regional Power Inc., today (July 27, 2016) led the official opening of the Gitchi Animki Hydroelectric Project.

The Gitchi Animki Hydroelectric Project is an hydroelectric development located within the traditional territory of the Pic Mobert First Nation, and consists of two generating stations (Gitchi Animki Bezhig & Gitchi Animki Niizh) with a combined capacity of 18.9 MW. The project is owned by the Pic Mobert Hydro Power Joint Venture, a 50/50 joint venture of subsidiary companies of the Pic Mobert First Nation and Regional Power, and represents a significant investment into the Northern Ontario economy.  “The completion of these projects is the result of over two decades of vision and persistence, and represents the single largest economic initiative of our community ever, and a significant investment into the Northern Ontario economy that is unprecedented for many years”, said Chief Wayne Sabourin.

“We are proud of our partnership with the Pic Mobert First Nation and the results of our efforts to develop and construct this project”, said Chris Lambeck, President, Regional Power Inc. “The project faced many challenges which were successfully overcome with a team committed to getting the project to completion and that demonstrated resilience and the ability to communicate and take a reasonable and realistic approach to solve problems”. “We are particularly proud of the economic benefit that this project has provided the Pic Mobert and White River communities during construction, all the individuals employed during construction, as well as to the companies from Northern Ontario who contributed to its success”.

Chief Sabourin acknowledged the contributions of the many individuals and organizations who contributed to the project, including financial contributions to the First Nation’s share of various costs from Industry Canada – FedNor, Indigenous Affairs and Northern Development Canada, the Ontario Power Authority (now the IESO) Aboriginal Renewable Energy Fund, the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation, and the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change’s Showcasing Innovation in Water Program – the latter of which contributed to the integration of micro-turbines into the regulating structures for the project, a unique low-impact, value added technology that supports the generation of power from compensation flows.

Chief Sabourin also emphasized the importance of the project to future generations of the Pic Mobert First Nation. “This is not for our generation; it’s for our children and their children, and will benefit our People for 100 years or more.”

The Gitchi Animki Hydroelectric Project was one of the first Aboriginal projects contracted under Ontario’s Feed In Tariff program.

For further information:

Norman Jaehrling
Managing Director
Gitchi Animki Energy Corp.
jaehrlingssm@gmail.com
(705) 971-4508

Chris Lambeck
President
Regional Power Inc.
Chris.lambeck@regionalpower.com
(905) 363-4200

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