On August 2, 2022, the M�tis Nation of Alberta (MNA) announced plans to proceed with the construction phase of the M�tis Crossing Solar Project (MCSP), a community generation solar project located in Smoky Lake County at M�tis Crossing, a signature cultural destination of the MNA. Led by the MNA, the MCSP is a collaboration between the M�tis Nation of Alberta, the Town of Smoky Lake, and Smoky Lake County. ATCO has been selected as the partner to construct the solar project through a competitive bidding process.

The Project

The project was developed as a key initiative of the MNA Climate Change Action Plan. The development of the solar facility will provide economic and community benefits to all community partners. Profits generated from the MCSP will be used to fund social and economic development initiatives and programs through the MNA, benefitting M�tis people across Alberta.

A portion of project profits will also support a Community Development Fund to encourage sustainable development in the local community. The facility is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 4,700 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent during its first year of operations and produce enough electricity to power more than 1,200 Alberta homes.

Additional economic benefits will be provided to the local community by hosting an infrastructure project of this size. The project has also committed to hiring and supporting M�tis and local community sub-contractors. The County of Smoky Lake will receive significant tax revenue as a result of the project.

Construction of the solar project began in the summer of 2022, and it was energized in the fall of 2023. Final testing and completion and the ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place in the spring of 2024.

Benefits:

• Offsets greenhouse gas emissions and reduces their carbon footprint
• Reduces CO2 emissions by 4,700 tonnes each year ? the equivalent of taking 1,000 cars off the road
• Produce enough electricity to power more than 1,200 Alberta homes
• Enables community ownership and self-sustaining economic development through job creation, investment in infrastructure and revenue from the sale of clean energy