The Ontario Waterpower Association congratulated Pic Mobert First Nation and Regional Power Inc. on the completion of its Gitchi Animki hydroelectric project in northwestern Ontario.
The grand opening of the project, which consists of two waterpower generating stations with a generating capacity of 18.9 megawatts, was held in White River, July 27.
The Gitchi Animki (White River) project is a 50-50 joint venture between Pic Mobert and Regional Power Inc.
The generating stations replace the function of an old Ministry of Natural Resources regulating dam that managed lake levels and flood flows on White Lake.
Project construction began in the fall of 2013 and was built by Actividades de Construccion y Servicios of Spain.
The development is located in the traditional territory of Pic Mobert and was one of the first contracted under the Ontario Power Authority's feed-in tariff program.
Three Pic Mobert members are being trained to operate the facility.
"Regional Power and the Pic Mobert First Nation are to be commended for bringing this project forward together," said Paul Norris, president of the Ontario Waterpower Association in a news release. "These developments are a great example of the opportunities that exist across the province to expand the contribution of waterpower to provide economic, environmental and energy benefits for present and future generations"
“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.
“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,” said Regional Power president Chris Lambeck. “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”.
